1. What is the reason for the change in garbage collection?

Automation has been shown to reduce operating costs, improve the appearance of our neighborhoods, and reduce injuries to workers.

Lowell’s program is loosely based on successful solid waste collection programs in Worcester and Brockton, Mass. and Nashua, New Hampshire.

There was a $4.5 million deficit between resident fees and the cost to provide solid waste collection to all 26,500 eligible households. Those deficit dollars should be going to schools, roads, infrastructure, etc.

2. When will the new program start?

March 2009… BIN-Dependence Day!... your first ‘trash day’ in March.

There are four additional towns going to automated trash pick up on July 1, 2009 and they are:

Billerica, Burlington, Tewksbury and Tyngsboro.

3. What are we paying for trash collection?

Currently, each participating dwelling unit pays $125, a year, for trash {subsidized by $175, per unit, from the General fund}... $250 for duplex, $375 for triple-Decker, etc. This 'trash fee' is invoiced on the homeowner’s quarterly water bill.

The actual cost of providing curbside trash collection is nearly $300 per household; providing this service to 26,500 customers has created a $4.5 million deficit.

Mixed-use (stores with apartments above), commercial and buildings with more than 6 units are not eligible for City trash collection.

4. Questions regarding the new wheeled-carts?

When will the carts arrive?

In February, each eligible unit will receive one (1) wheeled cart for trash - included in the annual trash fee - for use on the "first trash day of March", and beyond. A single family would get one, a duplex would get two, and so forth…

Carts will be delivered to the curb, at the spot where they should be placed for collection.

When do we start using the cart?

Carts should not be used before “the first trash day of March”… BIN-Dependence Day. For Monday ‘trash day’, that would be March 2^nd, Tuesday routes use the cart on March 3^rd; and so on. Carts placed curbside in February will not be emptied.

Who do the carts belong to?

The carts remain the property of the City of Lowell and stay with the house when you move. Carts have a City of Lowell seal and a serial number assigned to a particular address. You may mark your house or apartment number on the cart; but do not paint or deface the cart in any other way. Each cart comes with a ten year warranty and all reasonable repairs will be made free of charge. Replacements due to damage caused by residents will cost $75.

Do we have a choice of cart size?

No, you will be issued one (1) 64 gallon cart. Senior Citizens (who register for a Discount with DPW) will receive a 34 gallon cart instead.

Where do we place the cart on trash day?

Place carts at least two feet apart and two feet from parked cars, recycling bins, fences, mailboxes and other obstructions. Unhook, and remove, any temporary bungee cords or tie-downs you may have used to secure the lid, before setting the wheeled cart out on collection day. Carts and bags must be placed out on 'trash day' by 7 am, but not before 4 pm the previous night. Only official Lowell wheeled carts and purple bags will be collected on trash day. No other trash will be picked up.

Can I purchase a second cart?

The option of using a second cart exists; however, there is very little subsidy on ‘second’ carts. Additional carts will cost $265 a year (also invoiced quarterly on the water bills). The cost of a ‘second’ cart is equivalent to three and a half ‘purple’ bags a week. If you use less than three ‘overflow’ bags a week, a second cart is not advised. Remember, you are not buying a cart for $265; you are paying for the collection and disposal of 64-gallons worth of refuse for 52 weeks; more than 3,200 gallons over the course of a year. As with the first cart, the second cart remains the property of the city.

5. What do we do with garbage that will not fit in the wheeled cart?

The “pay as you throw program” requires that you purchase a $1.50 ‘overflow’ trash bag. The 64 gallon cart will hold 3 to 5 regular bags of trash. Fill your wheeled cart first, before placing “overflow” bags outside the cart. Trash inside the wheeled cart does not require the purple bag. Please bag your trash and tie securely before placing in the wheeled cart, any bag can be used, any color, any size. For all trash above and beyond what fits in the wheeled cart -with the lid closed- the resident/tenant will be responsible for buying a City of Lowell "overflow" bag.

Current convention is that annual trash fees are covered by landlords. The purchase and use of ‘purple’ bags will be the responsibility of tenants.

Examine you Cart for material to keep out Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

6. Where do we buy the $1.50 ‘overflow’ bags?

The purple ‘overflow’ bags will be available in local markets, retailers, convenience and grocery stores after Valentine’s Day. The 33-gallon draw-string bags come in 5 packs for $7.50 [a roll] and are intended for all refuse that does not fit in the wheeled cart. Trash inside the carts does not require ‘purple’ bags, but should be bagged. Per DOR there is no Mass sales tax added to the purchase price of bags.

Click here for a complete listing of locations. <Available shortly>

7. Senior Discount?

A homeowner, of a single family or duplex dwelling, who is 65 years old (by Jan 1 ‘09) may apply for a "senior discount". If you currently receive the senior discount, no further action is necessary; your account will automatically transfer to the new program.

What is the annual cost for seniors?

Seniors who choose the discounted rate, will receive the 32-gallon wheeled cart for $32 per year (billed quarterly - on the water bill); a saving of $93 a year. Receiving this sized cart is not mandatory; However, Seniors who desire the larger cart will forgo the discount and will instead receive the 64-gallon cart and pay $125/year.

How do I apply for the Senior discount?

The application is available at DPW, Neighborhood Services [City Hall], the Health Dept., the Senior Center and online. Completed forms, along with required documentation, should be submitted (in person) to the Lowell Department of Public Works at 1365 Middlesex St., M-F 8 am - 5 pm.

The account number requested on the application can be found on your quarterly water bill.

Senior Citizen Discount Application {Single-Family Residence} Form

Senior Senior Discount Application {Duplex Residence} Form

Discount applications submitted after February 1^st will not be honored until April 1st

**You will need to provide a copy of the deed to the property and a birth certificate of the owner on the deed**

Should I upgrade to the 64 gallon cart?

The savings granted seniors is $93 a year, which is equivalent to 62 ‘overflow’ bags a year. If you use less than 5 overflow bags a month, the upgrade is not advisable.

8. Is there a charge for the bulky items?

Yes, starting March 2nd, “Bulky” items will require collection appointments and a nominal disposal fee. You will need to call 800-442-9006 and make an appointment. Fees are collected (over the phone) when making the appointment. Place these items curbside on the date assigned by the contractor.

What is the cost for disposal of bulky items?

· Appliances, like stoves, washers, driers and dishwashers will be $10;

· Freon items like: fridges, freezers, A/Cs and dehumidifiers will cost $12 each;

· TVs and computer monitors smaller than 26 inches will be $10 and those larger will cost $20;

· Passenger tires and propane tanks will cost only $5;

· Misc items like small electronics (laptops, VCR, DVD player) are all $5 each;

· Furniture pieces, like mattresses, box springs, couches, futons and tables will cost $10.

These fee values were reached with great care, after careful market research and are mirrored in all six surrounding communities.

Any trash items, without appointments, not in the cart or purple bag will not be collected.

9. Any changes to curbside recycling, yard waste collection or HHW Day?

Recycling    (download Sticker Flyer)

Lowell is still using the green 18 gallon recycling bins and everything you place out for recycling is FREE. The City’s contractor will continue the ‘dual stream’ collection on your neighborhood ‘trash day’. Dual stream means you will need to separate paper products from ‘containers’. Residents should place ‘paper’ items in the green bin and clean bottles & cans in a labeled recycling barrel.

What goes in the green recycling bin?  (download Sticker Flyer)

It is recommended that you use the green bin [one free per household] for all the paper products. This includes, newspaper, magazines, junk mail (and yes window envelopes are OK), tissue & cereal boxes, office & school paper.

What about cardboard?

Cardboard will no longer be accepted with the trash. All boxes need to be broken down. Score the tape and fold the flaps down. Cardboard should be placed in the green bin or bundles [3 ft x 3 ft x 1 ft thick], secured with tape, can be placed on top of the bin.

How do I get a green recycling bin?

Three City offices have recycling bins to sign out. Green bins and stickers are available [one free per household] at City Hall (Rm 34), DPW at 1365 Middlesex St or at the Health Dept. 341 Pine St.

What goes in the recycling barrel?   (download Sticker Flyer)

‘Containers’; such as glass, tin/aluminum, bottles & cans and plastics (#1-#7, except Styrofoam… that goes in the trash), can go in a retired trash can [you won’t need it when the new wheeled trash carts arrive in February]. Lowell will provide a bright red sticker to label your recyclable ‘containers’ barrel as “BOTTLES & CANS”.

Label: Pick one up at Cty Hall (Rm 34), Lowell Senior Center, DPW (1365 Middlesex St) or the Health Dept (341 Pine St).

Some people find it convenient to place all paper products in a brown paper shopping bag, placed in the green recycling bin, along with the loose ‘containers’; that is still acceptable. But, remember no Styrofoam and no plastic bags… those should be returned to the supermarket

Will Yard Waste still be collected? (download Sticker Flyer)

Yard Waste is collected curbside from the first full week in April through the end of November. {This spring, yard waste collections begins Mon Apr 6th... and occurns on your neighborhood trash day}  Acceptable material includes: Cut grass, raked leaves and loose brush .  Branches must be less than 3' in length and less than 3" in diameter at the widest end.  All yard waste must be placed curbside in brown paper ‘lawn & leaf’ bags or loose in a barrel marked with a YARD WASTE sticker. 

Please do not put yard waste on top of your regular trash.

Yard Waste may not be placed out in plastic bags or prior to 4 pm day before trash day. Stickers are available at City Hall (Rm 34), DPW at 1365 Middlesex St., the Senior Center or at the Health Dept. 341 Pine St.

Brush can be placed curbside in bundles. No item within the bundle should be longer than three feet or thicker than three inches in diameter. Bundles should not weigh more than thirty-five pounds and must be secured with non-metallic twine.

Label: Pick one up at Cty Hall (Rm 34), DPW (1365 Middlesex St) or the Health Dept (341 Pine St).

Will Lowell still host HHW Days?

Lowell will continue to provide Household Hazardous Waste Day drop-off events. The spring drop off event is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept 26^th, 2009. Hazardous items and mercury products will continue to be free. Drop-off of TVs, monitors and propane tank will follow the established ‘bulky item’ fee structure.

The following fees will be charged for items dropped off at 2009 HHW Days:

· TVs and computer monitors smaller than 26 inches will be $10 and those larger will cost $20.

· Passenger tires and propane tanks will cost only $5.

· Misc items like small electronics (laptops, VCR, DVD player) are all $5 each.

10. Any changes to trash collection from 5 & 6 unit buildings?

Recently, the Lowell City Council voted to exclude 5 and 6 unit buildings from City trash collection... unless the owner lives in the building. Commercial, industrial and mixed-use (business w/ apartments above) are also NOT eligible for City trash collection. The Assessor's database will be used to determine eligibility and starting in March of 2009, the 5 & 6 unit buildings will be required to make 'private' trash collection arrangements with a refuse hauler.

The Application for 5 & 6 Unit dwellings can be found here in the near future.

11. What do I do with my old trash cans?

Once the new trash cart is in use, your old trash barrels should be re-used.  One barrel can be marked for YARD WASTE collection.  This barrel should be used for grass, leaves, small brush and other rakable yard debris. Affix the free Yard Waste sticker to the barrel. Yard Waste collection begins 'the first trash day of April'.  Another old trash can can be re-used as a recycling barrel.  On this one, affix a BOTTLES & CANS sticker and place glass, tin/alum., plastics (#1 -#7 no styrofoam) and bottles & cans. Stickers are available at City Hall (Rm 34), DPW (1365 Middlesex St), at the Health Dept. (341 Pine St) or the Senior Center.

Join our ListServe to receive information regarding changes to Solid Waste & Recycling collection.

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