Nearly 40 residents attended a meeting Monday, both virtually and in person, to learn about the town’s new automated trash and recycling collection system.

The town’s new five-year contract with Republic Services takes effect July 1, while the transition to automated collection is scheduled to begin July 20, according to Town Administrator Nick Connors.

Automated collection has become the industry standard for waste and recycling services. Under the system, a mechanical arm on the collection truck lifts and empties carts without requiring workers to leave the vehicle.

“We appreciate the chance to automate the town,” said Dan Higgins, the area manager of municipal sales at Republic Services. “It’s very exciting.”

Higgins noted that most of the trash collection company’s contracts are now automated. Republic Services also does not bid on manual pickups anymore, he said. 

“It’s something that nationally has already been adopted in a lot of cases,” Connors said. “New England is a little slower to this, so as the current round of contracts are expiring, the communities across eastern Massachusetts, this is a change that’s happening everywhere we go.”

Connors previously told the Select Board manual pickup would cost the town $475,000 to $480,000 more.

Town Meeting members voted to transfer $330,000 from free cash to purchase recycling carts this fiscal year. During consideration of Article No. 4, Town Meeting members also approved an amended appropriation tied to the upcoming recycling contract.

“When we put it all together it’s a much more expensive contract,” Connors previously said, noting that it has to do with the expenses from automation and recycling.

Instead of using multiple types of recycling bins, the town will transition to standardized carts compatible with automated collection trucks. Residents will receive a 95-gallon recycling bin from the town. 

Old bins will be collected, and additional information will be provided soon, Connors said. He noted that the Department of Public Works will probably have an open weekend to drop off old bins, and Republic Services may plan a week or two to pick them up at residences.

Residents will be able to request an additional recycling cart for an annual fee. The details on how to apply are being finalized, Connors said.

For one time excess trash and recycling, residents can continue to purchase additional blue bags that can be placed on top of the carts.

“That’s for an episodic thing: there’s a family party,” Connors said. 

It is also possible for residents to request a smaller barrel for recycling. A 65-gallon option will require an application, with seniors and residents with mobility restrictions taking preference. Requests for smaller bins will go into effect later this month or the first week of July, according to Connors.

These smaller barrels will be at no cost. If enough residents request smaller carts, there could be a brief delay in receiving them, Connors said. If that is the case, residents would receive the larger 95-gallon recycling bins and then have them switched out a week or so later, he said. 

Trash carts, on the other hand, will remain unchanged. Residents will be able to use their current 35-gallon trash carts with the new process. 

Connors, along with Higgins and Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta, also shared guidelines for placing the trash and recycling bins. 

Carts need to be placed outside on the curb by 7 a.m. with nothing leaning against them. The arrows on the lid should face the street, with the handle facing the house. The carts should be one foot from the curb and three feet from other objects, such as mailboxes and trees. 

Some residents questioned whether those spacing requirements would be feasible on streets lined with parked cars.

Higgins, however, said the measurements are a “goal,” but that “I know it will in some cases be hard.” If a trash and recycling collections person has an issue, they may leave a note to advise the resident on how to make the work better for the following week.

“Our goal is trying to keep the driver in the truck, not having to get out,” Higgins said. “We want to keep the same driver in the truck, servicing it down without them getting injured or whatnot. In certain cases, the driver’s going to have to get out and move the cart when you don’t have that type of space. If you can get two-feet (of distance) that would be great. If the driver has to get out, he’ll move it. Every time he gets on and off the truck, you are open to injury…Ultimately we like not getting out of the truck at all, but we realize it’s going to happen.”

Connors also said that residents with questions can generally continue placing their barrels in their current locations. He added that he and Cresta are available to meet individually with residents and can visit properties that may have unique or additional concerns.

“This will be a learning curve, both on Republic’s side and the town’s side,” Connors said. 

Collection will still take place each week, with yard waste and bulky items staying on a schedule.

Connors did note that the Select Board is debating if recycling collection should be changed to an every-other-week pickup schedule. 

“That was a discussion we had throughout the RFP process as well. We had that negotiation in advance with all vendors so that we could be eyes wide open with them and it’s something we were considering,” Connors said. “It plays into the thinking that we had around shaving a barrel (the size of 95 gallons) that could accommodate that type of service.”

The Select Board is expected to discuss and potentially vote on the contract at its June 17 meeting.