Like neighboring Saco, Old Orchard Beach will soon be using automated trash and recycling pick-up. OOB residents will be issued two 64 gallon recepticals, one for trash and another for recycling. Dina Mendros photo

The Old Orchard Beach Town Council voted to implement a new automated trash pick-up system on Aug. 15. In a unanimous decision, the council gave the green light to proceed with plans to modernize the waste management process. The council approved a lease-purchase agreement for solid waste recycling carts.

The council approved the lease-purchase for solid waste recycling carts, for a cost of $422,882.50. This financing will span a decade at an interest rate of 5 %, requiring annual payments of $52,249. Council members said they had to adapt to evolving waste management technologies and practices.

Audience members asked about the reason for transition to the automated trash pick-up system. Council members said that this change was driven by the prevailing industry trend, as all the companies they considered were adopting the automated system. The council pointed out that the traditional method of manual garbage collection, with workers hanging off the back of trucks, has become obsolete.

The new solid waste contract, entered into with Casella, encompasses the introduction of automated waste removal. Under this contract, each household will be provided with two 64-gallon containers — one for recycling and the other for trash. The distribution of these containers will be accompanied by postcards notifying residents of their designated pick-up days.

Casella Waste offered an overview of the upcoming changes during the meeting. The contract not only includes automatic waste removal but also specifies the need for compatible carts. There is a grant allocated for the purchase of recycling carts.

Residents can expect to receive both carts and notices detailing their trash pick-up schedules. A comprehensive flyer will accompany these materials, offering information about holiday pick-up schedules, frequently asked questions, and a list of recyclable items that are acceptable within the new system.

In line with the modernization efforts, an innovative mobile application will be launched to enhance residents’ interaction with the waste management system. This app, featuring a “Waste Wizard” tool, will enable users to ascertain whether an item is recyclable or not. Furthermore, the app will allow residents to leave comments or concerns about the trash pick-up process, to hopefully provide a more participatory approach to waste management.

The transition to the new automated trash removal system is scheduled to commence in September.