Avon, Farmington Valley Towns Consider Joint Hazardous Waste Collection Services

Avon is planning on jointly seeking a contractor with Canton, Granby and Simsbury for household hazardous waste collection.

That is something Town Manager Brandon Robertson recommended to the Town Council at its Feb. 7 meeting.

The Metropolitan District Commission has been providing the service for Avon and Farmington Valley towns, but Robertson reported to the council at its Thursday meeting that the cost has more than doubled since 2004 from $6,752 then to  $15,223 in 2012.

"The increase is a function of the volume and fees charged by MDC for administering the program," Robertson said updating the council in its agenda packet.

So the four towns have discussed issuing a collective request for proposal, Robertson said, and it could yield savings rather than sticking with the MDC. 

The MDC asked Avon for a decision by Feb. 1. Avon Town Council Chairman Mark Zacchio wrote in an email to Patch that the council and Robertson decided not to renew that agreement.

Robertson did note in the agenda packet that Avon and Simsbury residents might lose "some of the flexbility that they have had in the past with respect to 'drop off ' locations."

"We will compensate for this with additional advertising notifying residents well in advance of the change," he said.