Lexington resident Charles W. Forsberg is calling the town's waste fee policy "great for rats and bad for public health" as the Select Board prepares to finalize the program's design.
Forsberg published a letter in the Lexington Observer on Wednesday, Sept. 9, arguing that charging residents for excess garbage and selling overflow bags will encourage illegal dumping and attract rodents. He wrote that free garbage pickup began as a public health measure to control rat and flea populations, and that bags offer less protection than steel cans.
"Serving rats lunch in bags is a bad idea," Forsberg wrote.
His letter lands as the town wraps up a series of community input meetings on the program's design. Two sessions remain: a virtual meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, at noon and a hybrid session on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Police Community Room.
How the policy got here
The bylaw change traces back to the 2026 Annual Town Meeting, where Article 31 passed with about 70 percent support. The measure amended the town's General Bylaws to let the Select Board set a baseline level of free trash pickup and charge fees for disposal above that threshold.
Opponents gathered 1,732 signatures to force a town-wide referendum. In the June 16 special election, 4,374 voters said no and 2,977 said yes. But the no votes fell 341 short of the 4,715 needed to overturn the Town Meeting action, according to Lexington Observer reporting.
The bylaw change stands. What remains undecided are the specifics: cart sizes, overflow options and fee amounts.
What the program will look like
According to the town's waste program page, Lexington plans to roll out automated collection in the summer of 2027 with new wheeled carts for trash and recycling. Weekly pickup for trash, recycling and compost will continue.
At a June 8 Select Board meeting, Chair Jill Hai said neighboring towns Bedford, Belmont and Arlington all sell overflow bags at about $3 each. Select Board member Joe Pato estimated a second trash cart could cost $100 to $200 per year, with individual overflow bags running $2 to $5.
The town has also started charging for bulky items. As of Sept. 1, mattress disposal costs $49.50 and appliance pickup runs $27.50 to $44, according to the town's special fees notice. A hardship waiver is available for qualifying residents.
Not Lexington's first try
This is not the town's first attempt at pay-per-bag trash collection. Lexington tried a similar system in 2001, but it collapsed after a lawsuit, citizen petitions and a ballot referendum reversed the policy, the Lexington Observer reported in a Jan. 12 report.
The average Lexington household generates 1,391 pounds of waste per year, and the town's tipping fee sits at about $100 per ton and rising, according to that same report.
Neighboring Arlington offers one data point for supporters. After switching to automated collection in July 2025, Arlington disposed of about 16 percent less waste over a ten-month period and saved roughly $130,000, according to Arlington Town Manager Jim Feeney as reported by the Lexington Observer.
The Select Board is scheduled to finalize the program design this fall. Residents can weigh in at the remaining community meetings or contact the Board directly.
