Norwell Shifts Trash & Recycling to Highway Department

The town’s trash and recycling operations have officially moved under the management of the Norwell Highway Department, a shift town officials say will improve efficiency and coordination. The transition was discussed at a recent Norwell Advisory Board meeting, where officials reviewed the impact of the change on budgeting and operations.

The move consolidates management of the town’s solid waste program, which was previously handled by the Board of Health. The transition was driven by the fact that much of the labor and equipment used in trash and recycling operations was already under the Highway Department’s purview.

"I'd say it's probably two or three reasons," said Glenn Ferguson, Highway Director. "First of all, I run it anyway. The guys that are over there are under my employees. The equipment that's used to move the scrap around is mine."

The shift also aligns Norwell with the structure used in other Massachusetts towns, where solid waste management is often overseen by public works departments.

"It’s also in alignment for the towns—the way other towns do it," Ferguson added. "And I think we share the leaf disposal and the tree debris. It's just better all having one guy run it, one department run it."

Another factor behind the move was the upcoming relocation of Town Hall to Longwater Drive. Officials noted that residents needing trash and recycling stickers or assistance would benefit from having those services located in one place rather than across multiple departments.

"People are going to be coming in like you or Bob or to get stickers for trash," Ferguson said. "Oh my God, I have to go out of the town hall to come back. It'd be better if it was all there."

Despite the shift, Norwell residents will not see immediate cost savings. The town’s contract with Waste Management remains in place, and waste collection fees have risen significantly in recent years.

"Historically, we've been at 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and now we're projecting 1.4," said John McGrath, Advisory Board Chair, referring to the rising costs of trash and recycling services.

McGrath and other officials also raised concerns about the small size of the town-issued trash barrels, which many residents have criticized.

"The blue trash can is just—it's so small, it's like a running joke of the town of how little trash it actually fits," McGrath said.

Officials are now considering whether to allow residents to pay for additional or larger trash bins, similar to the existing system for purchasing extra purple trash bags.

"I was going to look into, if you want an additional barrel, there'd be an additional fee for that," Ferguson said.

The town will continue to monitor how the shift in management impacts efficiency and potential cost savings in the future.

To watch the full video of the meeting, visit Norwell Spotlight TV.

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