It’s a disposal program, not the decision to declare war on a neighboring town. Also, this town holds itself in pretty high esteem. The readiness and ability to dismiss 300+ success stories because (with noses held high) “those other towns could never know what it’s like to be us”.

Lastly, what in the world is the deal with the old man. I thought for sure that he was kidding through most of his “questioning”. Could he possible by any more of a walking cliche for a stereotypical, “back in my day”, anti-change, old man? You better wheel him back to his room before 9:00 pm so he can take his pills. Get him off the board.

Why do you need to do anything else??? Thats all government should be involved in.

Lets see, what does the government run? How does it fare?

Post Office – in ruins
Social Security – broke
Medicare – do I need to go on?

If we knew our delegation was going to act their action could indeed have an impact on this budget. We could cut appropriately from the Board of Education knowing that by that an exemption is in the works to protect our state dollars from being pulled back.

I can’t wait to see how these guys campaign this year, assuming they have competition. They have been good for absolutely nothing but introducing bonding earmarks. Debt and taxes…. where is the leadership?

There is nothing conservative about this plan.

You simply cannot use an argument that the town will reduce its taxes when every dollar of reduction comes from another tax. Our taxes increase any way you look at it.

This action sends a clear message for the upcoming 2011 – 2013 budget cycles – more increases are coming as any economic development is all but non-existent.

Sprague – a sleeve of 5, 32/33 gallon costs $6.25 – OR – $1.25 per bag
Stafford – .80 cents per large bag
Stonington – $1.25 per large bag

So why $2.00 for EH???????

Also, just doing a little investigating on the CT towns that already have programs like this in place. So far, I just looked up coventry….

Interesting to note that the 33 gallon bags in coventry are $1.00 versus the $2.00 they were proposing for EH.

Also interesting to note that coventry allows residents to place bulky items on specified days on the curb – so brush, furniture, mattresses, etc can still be picked up curbside…..apples and pears as thompson said….

I plan to look up the other towns mentioned to see how they compare…..hope you don’t mind if I post what I find on your site. Thanks

Is there a problem with implementing the new blue bins first and then seeing how this goes before implementing yet another program? Where is the thought process in this town? A smarter approach would be to announce to the town that “hey we are implementing this new blue recycle bin in hopes that we can increase recycling in town. In a few years we will begin evaluating these pay as you use programs.” What would have been wrong with that approach? I feel – and from the feelings at last nights meeting – that we, as residents have these things thrown in our faces with little to no notice and we are just suppose to accept it all. Think town council! THINK!!!

I am a member of the Green Committee where the blue bins were discussed. Interestingly the committee didn’t know that the barrels were going to be implemented in this year’s budget. What you said here was exactly the plan, except that Pay As You Throw was never an idea involved. We did discuss an incentive system whereby people are rewarded for recycling, but not a punitive system where people are taxed for a trash service they already pay for. This being based on the fact that every ton we recycle takes takes about $70 off the budget currently. (Wet newspapers anyone)

I figured out that my personal household trash impact is about $58.71 per year in tipping fees, yet it will cost me between $260-$390 in bag fees. Criminal.

No one brought up the issue of illegal dumping. Will this be a problem? How will clean-up and enforcement occur and at what cost to the taxpayers?

I agree – the 1.25 bags a week is ludicrous. We are a family of 4 – we probably use about 5, 13 gallon bags a week. If the “big yellow” bags hold 2 of these 13 gallon bags as stated then I’m not sure the 1.25 a week quote will cut it.

I thought the sales rep did a horrible job presenting. He seemed very scattered and was clearly there to sell. The comment when he stated that he would be the one to put the leaflets or notices on doors when people did not comply “if he had to” made him look like a liar and a fool.

I am truly dissappointed in Bill Horan. His comments were defensive and borderline rude. NO ONE and I mean NO ONE on the town council at this point in the evaluation process of this company should be completely for or against this new system. There are way too many gaps and unanswered questions and I think his stance that this “is a great idea” made him look foolish when so many unanswered questions and questioning of statistics came up during the meeting.

Is there a problem with implementing the new blue bins first and then seeing how this goes before implementing yet another program? Where is the thought process in this town? A smarter approach would be to announce to the town that “hey we are implementing this new blue recycle bin in hopes that we can increase recycling in town. In a few years we will begin evaluating these pay as you use programs.” What would have been wrong with that approach? I feel – and from the feelings at last nights meeting – that we, as residents have these things thrown in our faces with little to no notice and we are just suppose to accept it all. Think town council! THINK!!!

43% reduction? Yeah, right. According to the EPA, the average among these programs is about 25%. Still a good number, but about half of what WasteZero is promising.

Bottom line – EH MAY save money which will NOT be passed onto the taxpayers.