The Town of Gorham will discontinue distribution of town trash BAGS, replacing them with town trash TAGs, effective January 1, 2021. The tags have been in circulation since May 2016 and are seen as a more effective way to reduce trash volume. Town trash bags currently in use, will be honored until the supply is exhausted.

Public Works has received many complaints about the quality of the Town bags that have been used over the last 18 years since the inception of the program. Going forward, it will be much more efficient for Public Works to procure and distribute tags as well as freeing up valuable shelf space for store merchants.

The trash tags are available in local stores as well as municipal facilities wherever bags are sold. Residents will purchase their own trash bags and attach a Town tag to each bag when placed at the curb for collection. After January 1, 2021, trash will continue to be picked up in a Town trash bag if residents have them, but they will no longer be distributed to the stores.

The tags signifies to the Town’s curbside collection contractor, Pine Tree Waste (Casella), that the resident has paid for the collection of each tagged trash bag. This revenue from the sale of the tags is used by the Town to pay for the trash and recyclable curbside collection contract.

The Town Council voted that as of October 1, 2020, small trash bags (15 gallons) will be sold at 10 for $21.50 and large trash bags (33 gallons) will be sold at 5 for $21.50. While residents can use Town trash bags until they run out, the Town will not be selling the bags after January 1, 2021.

Residents will be able to buy Town tags, to use on their own trash bags, at a price of 5 for $7.50 for small trash bags, 15 gallons and smaller, and 5 for $15.00 for large trash bags, 33 gallons and smaller.

For more information, please call Gorham’s solid waste hotline at 892-3649.