📰BIDDEFORD | City Considers Limiting Orange Trash Bags per Pick-up

“If approved, residents would still have to purchase the orange overflow bags, would be limited to placing only 2 bags per weekly trash pick-up, and would need to balance their overflow trash bags on top of their green trash containers.”

March 20, 2026, Residents may soon experience a big change in how weekly trash pick-up occurs.

At this week's city council meeting, Public Works Director Jeff Demers addressed city councilors requesting clarification regarding a current city ordinance, as well as additionally requesting councilors approve a new “overflow bag limitation”.

The first piece, the “Ordinance Clarification” is fairly straightforward.

According to meeting documents, “Public Works is seeking clearer language that strictly defines acceptable curbside waste as routine residential household trash generated from normal daily living activities.”

The general reasoning expressed by Director Demers for the clarification request, was that it would result in financial savings for the city; by clarifying the language in the ordinance, residents would have a clearer understanding (and level of accountability) for what items they can and can not dispose of, in return saving the city funds that are currently spent on disposal of said items.

Essentially, the new language would give the public works department an accountability tool to leave incorrectly disposed items for the residents to dispose of themselves, rather than the city spending funds disposing of them. It seems that Director Demers feels the current language used is not strong enough to enforce any sort of disposal accountability.

The second piece, “Overflow Bag Limitation”, is not only straightforward, but also more likely to turn some heads.

According to meeting documents, “Public Works is requesting the ordinance be amended to limit overflow bags to two (2) per week per residence.”

To be clear, this is referring to the orange city trash bags that residents are required to purchase from the City of Biddeford [the “Pay As You Throw (PAYT) bags”] for overflow trash that cannot fit in their green trash containers.

Yes. You read it correctly.

Yes, you're understanding it correctly.

If passed, residents will be limited to placing no more than 2 overflow bags outside their residence with their green container per weekly trash pick-up.

Now take a deep breath, because there's more.. it gets a little weird.

Like the first piece (ordinance clarification), Director Demers expressed the reasoning behind the request of the 2 bag limit.

In the simplest sense, his sentiment suggested he felt it would allow for a more efficient pick-up process. More specifically, Demers drew contrast between employees being able to pick up the green containers with a claw operated from inside of the vehicle, versus instances when employees must exit the truck and manually insert overflow bags - therefore, the more overflow bags, then the more time and physical labor for said employee(s).

Remember a moment ago when we said it's going to “get a little weird”...

As the Director’s goal is to minimize the amount of times employees have to exit the trash truck, in addition to the 2 bag limit, Demers would also like residents to place the 2 overflow bags on top of the green container, on top of one another.

According to Demers, placing the 2 bags on top of the container will help to significantly lessen the amount of times employees will need to exit their vehicles as workers will be able to remain in the truck, operate the attached claw, pick up the green container with the two overflow bags placed on top, and then dump them into the truck.

Director Demers suggested in order to achieve getting residents to comply with placing their overflow bags on top of their green containers, public works would “educate the public” by issuing “pamphlets” and notices.

Is the pamphlet going to say “here is how to stack two overflow bags on top of a container”? We have no idea.

Alright, Just a quick recap on this 2 bag limit piece.

If approved, residents would still have to purchase the orange overflow bags, would be limited to placing only 2 bags per weekly trash pick-up, and would need to balance their overflow trash bags on top of their green trash containers.

According to the City's website, another option for residents is “to upgrade to a 64-gallon trash cart for a $122 yearly fee. This is a convenient option for households that frequently purchase Pay As You Throw bags”.

Ok. If you made it this far, we have a little Easter egg for you. Below is the City's current orange bag (PYAT) guidelines… NOTICE ANYTHING - here is a hint. It's the second to last item in the list.

Guidelines

• The City’s PAYT bags are sold in the local stores listed below, as well as at the Biddeford Recycling Center.

• Two sizes of bags are available. The large ones are a 30 gallon size and will hold approximately 35 pounds. The small ones are a 15 gallon size and will hold approximately 25 pounds.

• The large bags cost $2.25 per bag and are available for purchase in packages of 5 bags each. A package will cost $11.25.

• The small bags cost $1.75 per bag and are available for purchase in packages of 10 bags each. A package will cost $17.50.

• Do not use orange PAYT bags for trash that goes into the green trash container.

• Do not place your PAYT Bag on top of your green trash can. 《EASTER EGG》

• You can place the orange PAYT bags into an old trash can and place it out by the road for collection

To learn more about Biddeford's current trash and recycling collection, visit https://www.biddefordmaine.org/2172/Trash-and-Recycling-Collection

Thoughts?

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