Brentwood board sets recycling and waste budgets, plans warrant article on manual pickup option

Brentwood’s select board voted to set next year’s recycling budget at $150,203 and a waste disposal (rubbish) budget at $381,084 on a 6‑month automated/6‑month manual assumption, and directed staff to develop a warrant article giving voters the option to fund continued manual pickup.

Finance staff told the board the trash contract includes a 5% annual escalator; the board discussed budgeting for half the year on the higher manual rate and half the year on the lower automated rate so the town is protected if voters choose either option. A board member summarized the approach as “6 months manual, 6 months automated” to reduce the risk of over‑appropriation while enabling a warrant article to finance a full year of manual service if approved by voters.

During discussion resident Mike Earl and budget committee member Jimmy Azure urged the board to consider how neighboring towns handle recycling and privatized pickup and whether the town should offer a warrant article or an opt‑in model; Mr. Earl said residents in a neighboring town pay roughly $100 per household per year for weekly private recycling pickup.

Board members also reviewed the contract termination clause and whether the town could decouple recycling from the broader Casella contract. The chair noted the contract’s termination language and recommended consulting counsel before taking steps to parcel recycling out of the agreement.

The board approved the budget figures by roll call and asked staff to prepare warrant language and additional cost breakdowns for the public warrant articles process, with final drafting to occur before the town meeting.