Natick’s got a new problem with its blue Pay-as-you-Throw trash bags and for once it doesn’t have anything to do with their quality.
The town says the vendor that makes and distributes the bags “has notified us of supply chain problems related to COVID (raw materials, colorant, spare parts, labor shortage, and shipping limitations) that have impacted their ability to provide a continuous supply of bags for Natick.”
A fresh run of 15 gallon bags will be delivered to retailers this week, and more large ones (33 gallons) should be available next week. If you get really hard up, swing by the Department of Public Works Offices, 75 West St. They have a stash.
The shortage has set off discussion online, with some begging for the town to go to a sticker system in which people could put a certified sticker on any bag of their choosing.
The Select Board also took up the topic at the end of its Oct. 6 meeting.
“We don’t want people not putting their trash out” if they can’t access bags, Select Board member Michael Hickey said, even asking if an emergency waiver to go without the blue bags might be appropriate. He was reassured that while some retailers have run out, others have them.
Natick Town Administrator Jamie Errickson says he is working with the town’s Public Works Department on a “Plan B” if such shortages happen again.
“We don’t know what the plan is yet, we need to figure that out, talk through what logistically we can do,” he said. “I think this highlights the vulnerability and it’s true across a lot of our things…,” Errickson added, making reference to the recent sodium fluoride shortage warning.
The town went to the current system in 2004 as a way to better manage waste and boost recycling.
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A good “plan b” would be for the DPW to inventory gallon marked stickers to be used on regular trash bags in a crisis, that way the garbage gets taken out without messing up the cash flow.
Bob,
That was a fantastic review of an off season weekend in Block Island. We recently relocated back to New England from NC. It has been a crazy schedule of back to teaching and house hunting(staying within a budget compared to NC). We wanted to visit Block Island off season and reading your review has inspired us. You touched upon great restaurants, hiking, and down time. Thank you again..
Now that I live in another town I don’t miss Natick’s blue trash bags!
Love how Natick thinks they’ve outsmarted every other town with these silly bags. Move to garbage bins, alongside recycle bins and everybody wins.