Westborough approves pay‑as‑you‑throw permit and bag fees, authorizes vendor contract

The Westborough Select Board on May 14 approved a pay‑as‑you‑throw system that changes transfer station permits and bag pricing and authorized the town manager to finalize a contract with Way 0 to supply bags and support retail distribution.Staff presented proposed permit fees intended to preserve the town’s historical transfer-station revenue: an annual resident permit of $40 (current price $85), an annual senior permit of $25, a monthly permit at $20, a daily permit at $15 and a $10 replacement permit. A free recycling sticker would remain available. The bag pricing in staff presentations was described as a roll price that equates to about $1 per small bag and $2 per large bag; staff emphasized that revenues and program costs will be monitored and adjusted for FY26 if needed.To reduce misuse, the town will require photo identification and vehicle registration to obtain a permit; permits will be affixed to vehicles in a visible location and each permit will have a unique number that corresponds to registration. Staff described spot checks, camera review and enforcement options ranging from fines to revoking transfer station privileges as potential tools to deter improper use.The board also authorized the town manager to finalize and execute a contract with Way 0 (on the state bid list) to produce bags, work with selected retail outlets, and aid public education. Board members raised concerns about Way 0’s stated minimum order quantities and asked staff to pursue lower-quantity options for small retailers.