Sixteen thousand new trash and recycling carts will begin arriving at homes and businesses across Marblehead next week as the town transitions to an automated collection system. 鈥淭rash and recycling will only be collected from town-issued barrels/carts beginning July 1,鈥� Health Director Andrew Petty said. 鈥淚tems outside of barrels will not be collected. A copy of the curbside collection regulations are posted online and a copy will be delivered to you with your new barrels along with other directions for proper curbside putout.鈥�
Each cart will be printed with a serial number and assigned to the property rather than the owner or resident. The new barrels will cost the town about $900,000, financed over five years. There is no additional cost to property owners.
The carts are part of the town鈥檚 new trash and recycling contract, which features automated collection trucks equipped with mechanical arms that lift and empty barrels, reducing the need for a second worker on each route.