Has there been any consideration of passing along the blue recycle bins similar to what Everett & Medford offer to their residents? Also, is there anyway to reduce the amount of the 15 gal bags?

All the surrounding towns have a large recycling container and a small trash bin that can be wheeled to the sidewalk. I was once told by someone at the City Yard that Malden will never get them so basically get use to the trash bags. It is just a way for Malden Politicians to “continue” double dipping. I have my fingers crossed that Mayor Christenson will take a “serious” look at revamping the trash system.
There have been times when I had to spend my last $20 on trash bags and eat soup for dinner. I would like to pay a onetime fee, whatever that may be to just have a sturdy trash bin.
We need a “long” term solution.

When/if we go to trash barrels and recycling bins as may be recommended. I hope the trash disposal companies are more kind with the trash barrels as they roll all over all the streets they are used in. Most households have all adults working during the day. There is no one to put the barrels back on the sidewalks. They also toss the covers like frisbees left to their own way to get back to the owner. Updating the system definitely needs to be done, but the contractors need to be updated on their end. I have seen many "near accidents" as cars try to avoid trash barrels in the street even on non windy days.

Nobody likes fees and taxes and the Pay as You Throw Program is no different. Unfortunately, trash removal to be paid for, some way or another. Pay as You Throw allows residents to have some control over how much they pay for their trash removal and it helps distribute the cost more fairly to those residents that produce the most trash. Homeowners alone, aren't forced to bear the entire burden through higher property taxes, just because they own a home.

So paying for the trash bags is not enough, now they want us to buy barrels? what's next? All the cities around us have huge recycling containers provided by the city, that accommodate all the recycling needs. They are heaving enough not to get blown away on windy days, why can't Malden do the same. We don't mind paying for the stupid trash bag if they can at least provide the recycling containers. I wonder why many people are leaving Malden.

D: You are correct when you say large apartment and condo buildings are exempt from the PAYT program, but keep in mind, they must pay for the dumpsters that are on their site, and who pays for that? The condominium owner. So no one is exempt from paying for trash pick up.

The "new" system has forced me to recycle more, which is a good thing, although dragging 3 barrels to the curb every week is not fun (paper, plastic, trash). I think Revere's system of using one big barrel with a cover for any and all recycled materials is better. When the recycle barrel is picked up, the barrel is scanned and you get credit for recycling by giving the owner "points" which can be used towards the purchase of items at local merchants.

I walk by about two dozen homes on my way to work every morning.
Before PAYT, I'd see three, may four recycle bins on the curb on trash day.
After PAYT I see one, maybe two homes a week without a recycle bin on the curb.
Extrapolate across the city and that is a whole lot of recycling going on.

I understand people's distaste for PAYT, (buying the bags is a pain + one more expense) but it has been a success in my eyes.

Now, about getting recycle bins that don't crack after the first month of use...

Get us the bigger recycle bins and get rid of these stupid trash bags! If you want us to recycle, help us

I still use my "old" white trash bags then pile them into 1 large blue trash bag. 3 times someone dumped out my trash and took my blue trash bags. On several other occasions the recycle people didn't take my paper recycling because there were cans in the paper...the non-redeemable cans were not left by me....the whole program needs to be revamped....I spoke with the DPW and there only comment was "don't put your trash out the night before trash day..." *sigh*

I recycle so much ! I have 3 recycle bins, that overflow, every week. It's just those trash bags, I live with myself, husband, and two kids, and have to use 2, and sometimes 3, trash bags. And those are the 2$ bags.

I say take away the blue trash bags, and make it mandatory that we recycle, and fine the residents that don't. It might sound like a hassle, but if we do our job, the trash collectors could give off some type of fine. anything is possible of we put our minds to it.

I applaud you Jen for trying to come up with a different solution! and I have to say my recycling did improve having had to buy the bags...BUT .I didn't like it in the beginning and dislike it even more now with the economy the way it is...times are hard enough as it is without having to shell out $10/$20 box of bags that fall apart...

Awesome...a tutorial on how to throw out one's trash. Boy, do I feel enlightened! Who knew walking out to the curb, opening up the lid, and throwing the trash in the barrel was so complicated!

Funny how Medford doesn't make their residents buy those expensive trash bags. As a matter of fact, Medford supplies their residents with a full size barrel for trash AND one for recycling. And they still do it all for a lot cheaper. Makes you wonder where the money for the bags really goes. Someone call Carl Bernstein!

Mr Bob Knox, is your employment recyclable? :)

the city of everett also has a barrel for recycling papers, cans ans plastics, and they give there residents points on different things within the city.. why hasnt someone from malden checked with them on how there program works and the city streets in everett are a hell of lot cleaner on trash days than maldens... I know i have lived in both citys, the trash man in everett dont leave the trash on the street where they drop it......

If I remember correctly the contract is almost up with this trash company.?!...maybe time to review and not renew?

Kelly I couldn't agree with you more! I return my soda cans and bottles for my money. And then recycle everything else, recyclable. I just feel that as a resident of Malden, i don't feel I should have to pay to throw my trash away. There is complexes like bowdoin who have dumpsters and they don't have to buy those bags. And what kills me is as I'm struggling with the bad economy, paying for these bags, and watching Malden City Workers, driving around in their pretty much new Suburbans....and in the summer got the windows up blasting the AC's. ......hmmm, are we paying the gas for those semi-new trucks?

I find the headline of "Changes to PAYT" misleading. They announced a new bag size, nothing changed.

OMG! I didn't realize that about the contract :( as far as the recyclables Jen, The "non recyclable" cans were left several times in my paper because of the people that walk around collecting recyclable cans and emptying in MY paper bin their garbage. (Caught them several times doing this) Which is why the DPW told me to put my "stuff" out in the morning....to prevent this. Putting items out in the morning hasn't prevented this at all because I have to take my kids to school and now I don't "catch" them doing it. *Sigh* losing battle...

Since this program started this city has been looking like the city dump !!

I know that as a parent of two small children in diapers, our garbage is extensive. Our disposable diapers take up at least one big bag. What makes the PAYT program hard for us is the cost of bags coupled with the terrible quality of the bags! They rip, tear and are not designed for heavy or large items even though they are large bags. It is difficult to be faced with the dilemma of having to "afford" to throw away your garbage. It feels unfair that on top of a lagging economy young families in need of support are faced with economic pressure from the very towns that are taking their hard earned taxes.

The city of Gloucester used to have a sticker program, same idea as the bags, only you get to choose the bags you want, and put a sticker on anything non recycleable. But really, trash removal is an essential service, on that our city taxes, (which seem pretty high considering my house as lost 20% of its value) had historically payed for. Now that the city council and former mayor has brought in this new revenue stream, you can count on it being here forever.

Not assisting this revenue stream. Guessing the city "isn't" making the kind of revenue off of this that they thought they would. Never bought a blue trash bag. Never intend to.

Even if you do everything right and put out your recycle bins and used the blue bags, the quality of the bags has been getting thinner and thinner with the drawstring almost like its perforated..so the bags break either just by filling them or when neighborhood dogs or scavengers for cans break into them. Then there is the fact that most weeks JRM does not pick up the recycle bins at the same time as the trash bags, so the trash blows around all day. Then there is JRM themselves. If they have a mishap when collecting bags or bins and drop trash into the street, they do not pick it up! I don't know why the city contracts with JRM when they have plenty of city workers sitting in Honey Dew donuts on Eastern Avenue every morning around 9:30am!

The only solution to Malden's trash problem is get rid of the blue bags and go back to a local based solution to collect the trash, where the people that work collecting the trash have pride in the city for giving them employment and accountability as well.

Word up on that, Raj....if the city workers aren't sitting at either Dunkin' Donuts or Honey Dew, they are parked at Anthony's on Canal Street for an 'extended' lunch. Dear Mr. Levine.....the blue trash bags came AFTER the recycling bins came to fruition ! But I'm sure you knew that :)

I feel the residents of MALDEN would continue to recycle if city hall got rid of the blue bags. The only difference between the city bags and the green hefty bags we used to use is PRICE. They are both biodegradeable. WHY dosen't city hall let the residents go back to the old way for one month and in that month if nothing has changed then keep the blue bags.

It's human nature more times then not, if you are not forced or if there is no direct benefit to you, your not going to do it. (as far as recycling goes) The mayor and his team are trying to "build a better mouse trap" It's not going to happen over night. So until the new mouse trap is built we are going to have to deal with what we have. Reply at will.......

As the residents of Malden have become more diverse over the years, it would be helpful to the city and its residents if they made instruction videos in a language other than English, as there are more and more non-native English speakers in this city. Case in point: the tenants, who live in the multi-family house next door, are Chinese, speak Mandarin, and they don't seem to quite get this whole trash/recycling thing.

Well folks.....I am going to leave this in the hands of the powers to be an see what happens. Hopefully a different system will be the answer. It's not going to happen over night, so be patient. Also you can't please all of the people all of the time. With that in mind, I'm done debating this issue. Waiting for the next........8)

I asked about the bags at Stop and Shop yesterday, and they had no clue about this change.. Does anyone know where I can find them??

Thank you, DannyBoy. :)

any idea why the bags can't be purchased at city hall or the city yards anymore?

Here's one for ya - looks like good ole Richie Howard is still in bed with JRM:
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/arlington/2012/06/arlington_placing_limits_on_tr.html?p1=Well_Local_YourTownlinks

"The first change will come July 2 when the town’s new contractor, Peabody-based JRM Hauling and Recycling, will begin picking up recycling every week instead of every other week. Seasonal pickup of yard waste will also move to a weekly schedule."

Thanks for that sweethart 20 year deal on your way out when you didn't give a crap about anything else, Richie. JRM obviously has good ole Richie in their pocket, or on their payroll.