Frequently Asked Questions

No. Households are not limited to 35 gallons of trash.

Under the Hybrid PAYT program, each household will receive a 35-gallon cart collected weekly at no cost as the basic level of service. If a household has more trash in a given week, they can place additional trash in Town PAYT bags, which will also be collected curbside. There is no limit to the number of bags that can be used.  PAYT actually removes the existing household limit, allowing households an economical way to handle occasional high trash volumes such as seasonal cleanouts, holiday parties, etc...

The 35-gallon cart was chosen because survey data shows that most households generate 1–3 kitchen trash bags per week, which fits within that cart.

In short:

• The first 35 gallons each week are still collected at no cost.

• Additional trash can always be set out using PAYT bags.

Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) is a fee structure for trash collection.  Under Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 44, §28C(f) and M.G.L. c. 40, §22F) the authority to establish and set solid waste fees rests with the Select Board—not Town Meeting.  Town Meeting does not have the authority to direct the Select Board to execute its statutory authority in any particular way.

The proposed Operations Analyst position is a practical, cost-effective investment that helps protect taxpayers while improving everyday town services. A key part of the role is supporting the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) trash and recycling program, which affects nearly every household in Westford and represents one of the Town’s largest contracted costs. The Operations Analyst would track contractor performance, follow up on missed pickups and service issues, support future potential program changes like different cart sizes, and ensure fees and revenues are managed accurately—helping control costs while improving customer service. 

More broadly, the position focuses on finding savings, improving contracts, managing energy and utility costs, and making sure Town programs run as efficiently as possible. By handling detailed analysis and day-to-day oversight, the Operations Analyst frees up senior staff to focus on long-term financial planning, while ensuring opportunities to reduce costs, improve services, and protect taxpayer dollars are not missed.

This position IS NOT a reconstitution of the Town's former Sustainability Coordinator position.  This is a technical and financial role, focused on business and operations analysis, research and support.  This is very similar to the private sector function of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and would work in a similar capacity and support multiple Town departments.  

The salary for this position is included in the FY2027 proposed budget at $80,000/year; benefits can vary depending on selections, but average $22,000 per year.

You can learn more about the proposed position and benefits to taxpayers here:  https://www.westfordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17615/20260121-Operations-Analyst-Proposal-Memo.  You can also reach out to the Town Manager's Office if you have further questions or would like to better understand the need for this new position and its role in the organization.

The Town is implementing a "hybrid" PAYT program, where your 35-gallon cart will be collected at no charge. You will only have to buy PAYT bags if you have more trash than fits in your free 35-gallon cart. You do not need to use PAYT bags for trash that fits within your household's town-branded 35-gallon cart.  

Once your new cart is delivered, you may continue to use your old containers to hold overflow bags.  If you have an automated cart, you can use it for recycling by clearly marking it "RECYCLING" by stopping by the Town Clerk's office for a free sticker.  

If you no longer need your cart and can't find another use for it, the Town is working on a cart take-back program after the new program launches and your new carts are delivered.  Please check back here for more information.  Notices will also be posted to the Town's social media feeds.

Your trash should be placed curbside before 7am on your collection day and not left out overnight. This is the Town’s current guidance and eliminates the chance animals will get into trash overnight. To further discourage animals, we recommend overflow bags may be placed in a container (same as you do now), provided ALL TRASH within that container is in an overflow bag.  

No, this is not a new tax. This is a fee for a utility service that is being implemented to offer residents the choice to maintain their current level of service. Following the failed override in May of 2024, many Town services were reduced, including staffing in Police and Fire, and teachers and paraprofessionals in the classroom. The trash service is being reduced to the Basic Service (35-gallon cart), which is the service that can be sustained within the tax levy. Similarly, Fire Department response times have increased, WPS has higher student-to-teacher ratios, and Library operating hours have been reduced. Reductions in the level of service are the impacts of budget cuts; as a fee-for-service utility, PAYT offers customers the option to purchase the services they need at a cost significantly below the market for waste disposal. 

There is no evidence to suggest this will be the case, but it is a possibility the Town is prepared for.  Illegal dumping can result in a fine of up to $5,000 and will be aggressively investigated by Westford Police.  Unauthorized use of Town and School dumpsters can result in a fine of up to $100 and will similarly be pursued by WPD.  If you observe illegal dumping or unauthorized use of dumpsters, report it to the Police…this is stealing from you, the taxpayer. 

According to MassDEP data, 127 municipalities offer trash service using a drop-off transfer station.  Of those, 87 run their transfer station as PAYT operation, charging residents fees for each bag of trash, and 55 of those also charge an access fee.  In looking at costs across these municipalities, the curbside hybrid PAYT program compares extremely favorably in cost terms.  

As an example, the Town of Groton offers transfer station for residents for an $80 annual access fee PLUS it requires use of PAYT bags, which are sold at a cost of $2.50 for a 32-gallon bag (Westford proposes $2.75/bag curbside, no annual fee).  Here are a few examples of scenarios that may help to put this in context.

1.  A large family that would fill a 35-gallon cart PLUS use 2 extra 32-gallon PAYT bags each week (the equivalent of 3 -  32-gallon barrels, the current Westford limit) would spend $286 annually to have that garbage picked up curbside (2 bags @ $2.75 each X 52)…remember that the first 35-gallons is NO CHARGE.  And…this is a very, very large amount of trash…most survey respondents, even those that indicated a large household size, were well within a single overflow bag on normal weeks.  
2. That same family would spend $470 annually to load up 3 Groton PAYT bags at $2.50/per bag in the back of their own car, drive them down to the transfer station, unload them, and throw them into the hopper.  (3 bags @ $2.50 each x 52 + $80/annual sticker fee).  That doesn’t factor in fuel or time spent, nor the fact that this scenario has then always using the same car (and sticker)…add $25 if you want to get a second sticker.
3. A 2-person household that uses 1 PAYT bag in Groton each week will pay $210/annually ($80 annual fee + $2.50 bag X 52) to load their garbage up in their car and drive to transfer station.  In Westford, this costs nothing and is conveniently done curbside.

 Factoring in the 35-gallon cart Basic Service AT NO CHARGE, Westford's program compares favorably with many across the state for both curbside and transfer station service.  The example above used Groton's transfer station, but Littleton ($165 annual transfer station fee, 33-gallon bag @ $3.75) or Acton ($115 annual transfer station fee, 33-gallon bag @ $2.10) are other neighboring communities with similar transfer station programs.

All households will be provided with a 35-gallon cart which will be collected at no charge.  Most smaller households will find this more than adequate for weekly use, as it holds 2-3 large kitchen garbage bags easily.  

The Town is working on a program to provide free or reduced-cost overflow bags for eligible seniors and low-income residents through our social services departments. More information will be made available on this in the near future.  Please check back on the program webpage for future updates.

All households will be provided with a 35-gallon cart (the Basic Service) which will be collected at no charge.  Unfortunately, large households which generate large amounts of waste may use overflow bags more often and incur higher costs for trash disposal. All households may find useful information on recycling that may help to reduce the amount of trash and disposal costs by visiting the Westford Recycling Commission webpage..  

However, as with other utility services like water and power, household size directly impacts the cost of utilities. The Basic Service PLUS one (1) bag per week is roughly equivalent to a 65-gallon cart, meaning that if your household puts out one PAYT bag per week at $2.75 will cost less than $12 per month on average.

No. Recycling remains free, unlimited, and strongly encouraged. Revenues from the PAYT program will be used to expand and improve the Town’s recycling and diversion programs to help offset the impact of PAYT and make it easier to reduce the trash your household generates.   Please visit the Westford Recycling Commission webpage for more information.

The revenues from fees paid for PAYT bags will be used to:

1. Pay for the actual cost of collection and disposal of the trash in the bag; the Town pays more than $0.05 per pound of trash that it sends to the incinerator.  Including collection costs, each bag of trash (between 19-25 pounds) will cost the Town between $1.71 and $2.02 in total costs.
2. Fund additional and expanded recycling, composting and trash diversion programs.
3. Fund a new Management Analyst position that will manage the curbside collection program as well as coordinate the additional and expanded recycling programs noted above.  This position will also be responsible for managing and analyzing the Town's energy expenditures, identifying energy efficiency investments, and identifying and applying for grants.  More information will be presented on this position and the financial benefits it will bring to the Town during the FY2027 budget process. 

No. Businesses, multi-family properties with four (4) or more units and any other properties with private trash service are not eligible for curbside collection under the Town's program and therefor part of PAYT and will not have any changes.  

In fact, since the current curbside program is now entirely funded by property tax revenues, businesses and multifamily properties that are not eligible for the Town's curbside collection program pay to subsidize the service for eligible customers; PAYT helps to shift costs away from these taxpayers and place it on the users of the utility service.

The Town will publish a list of participating retailers before launch. We anticipate that several area retailers, including grocery stores, convenience stores, and hardware stores will offer bags for sale. 

Unfortunately, with the new carts not being delivered until June, your options are limited.  Since there is no current standard on carts, you can use any type of container for trash that you have available or wish to purchase, but keep in mind it will not work as your primary trash cart when PAYT is rolled out in July 2026.  If you do need a cart, we recommend that you either:

1. Purchase one suitable for automated collection (hard-sided, hinged lid, wheeled, with the metal bar) that you can transition to a recycling cart later by clearly labeling it "Recycling" (free stickers available at Town Clerk's office); or
2. Use something economical that you can use for overflow bags or another purpose later; or
3. Ask friends and neighbors to see if someone has a spare container.

You can always just use bags and place them curbside without a container, provided it is sturdy, under 30lbs filled, and tied.  This is an acceptable container under our current program.

A number of properties in Westford have Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s).  These can be in-law apartments, garage apartments, attached or detached guest houses.  ADU’s are eligible for curbside collection as long as they meet the following criteria:

•  Included in the Assessor’s Office database as an ADU or similar designation; AND

• Have their own address (distinct from the primary dwelling unit)

There are some older, pre-existing ADU’s that may not meet these criteria but are still eligible for a Basic Service cart.  The Town is developing a tool to allow you to check eligibility for curbside service and be sure your address is on our list for cart delivery; please check back on the PAYT webpage for future updates.

No, your property taxes will not be reduced with the implementation of PAYT.  Your property taxes will continue to fund the basic service (35-gallon cart) and unlimited recycling collection.  PAYT fees cover the additional costs for households that dispose of trash above the average household volume.  A detailed explanation of the bag fee and costs therein can be found in the November 25, 2026 memorandum to the Select Board  starting on Page 9.  

PAYT is a way for a basic curbside service to continue to be delivered to eligible Westford households, while allowing those households that need additional disposal to receive it at a cost-effective way.  When Westford voters rejected the Proposition 2 1/2 override in 2025, many services were reduced, including the loss of multiple public safety positions, teachers, and DPW workers, while trash service remained unchanged and accounting for 84% of the overall budget increase in FY25.  As a result, the Town is now faced with either significantly reducing curbside service with NO options provided to handle excess waste, or using PAYT fees to cover the cost the levy can no longer absorb and providing a way for excess waste to still be collected.  You can read more about the unsustainability of the current program here.