This summer, Cumberland will transition to automated trash and recycling collection, replacing the waste bins of all residents with new containers that fit the automated grabbers on Casella trucks.

Cumberland’s current waste contract with Casella Waste Systems started last July, though the transition to automation took a year to prepare. The town will begin distributing new bins to residents on Monday, July 21, and automated collection will begin on Aug. 4.

Each residence will receive two 64-gallon carts, a black cart for trash and a blue one for recycling. For automated collection, the cart lids must be completely closed when on the curb. Collection days will remain the same for all residents, unless later notified.

Each truck has separate compartments for trash and recycling.

“We heard rumors about trash and recycling being combined and that is simply not true,” the town wrote on its website.

Residents will have to continue to purchase pay-as-you-throw bags for the trash they place inside the bin. Town staff said the PAYT program both offsets waste disposal costs in the revenue generated by the bag sales and increases recycling as residents must pay more for the trash that goes to the landfill. The program also more fairly distributes the cost of waste collection, as households that dispose of more garbage pay more for waste disposal.

“Since implementing PAYT, our town has seen positive changes, including increased recycling rates and a decrease in overall trash volume. These outcomes not only benefit the environment but also help keep disposal costs manageable for all residents,” according to the town website.

While residents are allowed to keep their old collection bins for their own purposes, bins they would like to get rid of can be dropped off at the Cumberland Public Works garage from Aug. 22-31.