Rockland trash program challenged

ROCKLAND – Petitioners left City Hall on Wednesday, ready to collect 488 signatures aimed at overturning a pay-as-you-throw trash disposal program approved Monday by the City Council.

Sixteen people arrived at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon, said City Clerk Stuart Sylvester.

He said the group must collect 488 valid signatures from registered voters by April 14 to get a measure on a June ballot.

City Manager Tom Hall said the council approved the enabling ordinance for pay-as-you-throw, but fees have not been established. An initial estimate of $1.71 per bag has been mentioned, Hall said, but fees for various size bags need to be considered as well as per-ton fees for commercial haulers.

The vote Monday was 3-2 with Councilors Adele Grossman Faber and Hal Perry opposed.

The goal is to provide enough revenue to cover expenses for handling municipal solid waste and recycling costs, which amount to $681,000, Hall said. It does not include landfill costs.

Former Mayor Tom Molloy, one of three people leading the petition effort, said the petition, if successful, calls for a June referendum to repeal the council vote.

“It’s just another tax,” Molloy said of the trash fees. “There’s better ways to take care of our solid waste problem, [such as] enforcing recycling laws.”