Council presses staff on Casella contract rollout, cart limits and enforcement
March 20, 2026 | Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine
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Councilors used the budget workshop to press staff about the city’s new contract with Casella for curbside collection, the costs embedded in the FY27 budget and how the company and the city plan to manage rollout, limits, and enforcement.
"From September, July to this year, we're paying, 2,060,000," Councilor Nadine said, summarizing the contract cost figures she had in hand and urging further discussion and community outreach. Councilors asked whether the city has a mechanism to withdraw from the contract; staff replied they had not reviewed exit risk but that contract clauses likely exist and they would follow up.
Councilors also asked practical questions about implementation: whether extra carts could be purchased by households, whether larger carts would be serviced without extra collection fees and how enforcement would be handled when residents place additional trash outside their carts. Staff said extra 95‑gallon carts are available for purchase (one‑time cost) and that collection itself would not carry an additional pickup fee, but staff also acknowledged they need to provide details on cart costs and enforcement policies.
Officials said Casella will include boots‑on‑the‑ground outreach and the city’s marketing team is preparing an extensive public‑education campaign. "Casella is planning out boots on the ground, working with these neighborhoods as they're deploying," staff said, adding the marketing director has a communication plan in place.
Why it matters: councilors said rollout risks include trash left at curbs because of schedule confusion or special events (holidays, leaf collection) and the need for clear enforcement and education so neighborhoods are not left with uncollected waste.
Next steps: staff pledged follow-up with contract language, a public meeting series, additional cost details for optional carts, and a review of how revenues tied to the transfer facility are recorded; the council will revisit revenues at the next workshop.
"From September, July to this year, we're paying, 2,060,000," Councilor Nadine said, summarizing the contract cost figures she had in hand and urging further discussion and community outreach. Councilors asked whether the city has a mechanism to withdraw from the contract; staff replied they had not reviewed exit risk but that contract clauses likely exist and they would follow up.
Councilors also asked practical questions about implementation: whether extra carts could be purchased by households, whether larger carts would be serviced without extra collection fees and how enforcement would be handled when residents place additional trash outside their carts. Staff said extra 95‑gallon carts are available for purchase (one‑time cost) and that collection itself would not carry an additional pickup fee, but staff also acknowledged they need to provide details on cart costs and enforcement policies.
Officials said Casella will include boots‑on‑the‑ground outreach and the city’s marketing team is preparing an extensive public‑education campaign. "Casella is planning out boots on the ground, working with these neighborhoods as they're deploying," staff said, adding the marketing director has a communication plan in place.
Why it matters: councilors said rollout risks include trash left at curbs because of schedule confusion or special events (holidays, leaf collection) and the need for clear enforcement and education so neighborhoods are not left with uncollected waste.
Next steps: staff pledged follow-up with contract language, a public meeting series, additional cost details for optional carts, and a review of how revenues tied to the transfer facility are recorded; the council will revisit revenues at the next workshop.
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