Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) Program

Overview

Westford is implementing a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) program beginning July 2026 as part of the Town’s Comprehensive Waste Reduction Plan. The Select Board approved the program at their November 25, 2025 meeting. 

Under the PAYT curbside trash collection utility service, each eligible household will receive a free 35-gallon trash cart which will be collected weekly at no charge; any extra trash must be placed in official town-branded PAYT overflow bags which can be purchased from local retailers. 

For information on the EXISTING curbside trash collection program, please click here.

Waste Less Westford logo showing a trash container with a hand holding a plant inside, surrounded by
Person standing beside a blue 35-gallon wheeled trash cart with the lid open, demonstrating the size

How will Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) work? 

  1. Basic Curbside Service (no charge)
    1. New Town-branded 35-gallon trash carts delivered to your home before July 1, 2026.
    2. Fill your cart; you do not need to use PAYT bags in your Town cart.
    3. Place your 35-gallon cart at the curb by 7:00AM on your regular day for weekly trash collection.
  2. Overflow Curbside Service (fee-based PAYT Bags)
    1. Bags can be purchased from local retailers for $2.75/bag and sold in rolls of five (5) for $13.75/roll.  One (1) 32-gallon bag holds 2-3 full 13-gallon tall kitchen garbage bags.  
    2. Put extra trash in official PAYT overflow bags and place at the curb by 7:00AM on your regular day for weekly trash collection.
    3. Bags may be placed on the ground, but it is recommended they be placed in a barrel or cart to discourage animals and pests.
    4. All trash must fit in the bag with bag closed and weigh no more than 30lbs.  There is no limit to the number of bags you can put out in a week.
  3. Recycling stays the same!  
    1. Set recycling out as usual - recycling remains free and unlimited. 

Find guidance for bulky waste, electronics, hazardous items, and other special collection events by visiting the Westford Recycling Commission's webpage.  Check back often for new information on new recycling and waste reduction opportunities.

  1. Is the Town taking away the current 96-gallon trash allowance and replacing it with only 35 gallons?
  2. Why isn’t the PAYT program being decided by Town Meeting?
  3. What is this new position being proposed and how does it relate to the PAYT program?
View All FAQs

Why Westford is Moving to PAYT

PAYT aligns with how utilities already work — you only pay for what you use.

  1. Control Rising Costs

    Trash disposal and hauling costs continue to increase. PAYT ensures the Town can maintain current service levels without cuts. PAYT fees cover cost of excess waste disposal, allowing tax revenue to fund other core Town services. 

  2. Fairness & Transparency

    PAYT provides a transparent, straightforward structure in which trash service costs are tied to actual use, creating a predictable, easy-to-understand system for all households. 

  3. Environmental Benefits

    PAYT is proven to reduce trash tonnage and increase recycling and composting, supporting Westford’s 2025 Strategic Plan commitments to sustainability and climate action. 

  4. Stronger Municipal Services

    By creating a hybrid system, the basic household trash service will be preserved at no additional costs, resulting in program sustainability.  This will preserve the core trash service under increasing fiscal constraints and allowing program revenues to expand and enhance recycling programs, building a stronger and more responsive service for Westford residents. 

PAYT Program Timeline

The Town has taken a very deliberative, transparent, and thoughtful approach to developing a trash program that will be fiscally sustainable and meet the needs of our residents.  Here's how we got here.

2025

2024 

2023 

  • October 18, 2023: Budget Task Force recommends PAYT be considered
  • February 14, 2023: Select Board presentation on PAYT options 

2021 

  • March 9, 2021: Select Board presentation on PAYT options 

Who is Affected by PAYT and Who is Not

✅  Single-family homes  ❌ Commercial Businesses  
✅  Small multi-family properties on municipal trash pickup ❌ Multi-family properties with four or more units  

❌ Condominiums with private waste contractors 

Opportunities to Learn More

  • Join a Lunch and Learn at the Cameron Senior Center at 20 Pleasant Street on February 10 at 12:00 pm. 
    • Public welcome, but seniors given priority for lunch signup; stop by or call the front desk to signup (after January 1) at 978-692-5523 
  • View sample 35-gallon trash carts and PAYT bags on the first floor of Town Hall.
  • Sign up for the Town Manager’s Newsletter (https://westfordma.gov/list.aspx)
  • Check back here for more events and informational sessions.
  • Reach out to the Town Manager's Office at tmaa@westfordma.gov.