On June 16, the town voted on whether to uphold Article 31, an amendment that would allow the town to charge fees for trash past a certain threshold. Although 4,374 residents voted against the amendment and 2,977 voted for it, the Nos fell short of the 20% of registered voters needed to overturn the Town Meeting Vote.
Voter Turnout
There are a total of 23,574 registered voters in Lexington. Out of this, only 7,361 people voted. That means that 4,374 people voted against the amendment, 2,977 people voted for it, and 16,213 people- nearly 70% of registered voters- did not vote at all. Residents expressed a range of views during this election, but many share common goals, including reducing waste, ensuring fairness, and creating a program that works for households with different needs.
The New Policy
LexCAN supported Article 31 because we believe the new policy can help reduce disposal costs, encourage waste reduction, reduce emissions and lessen the environmental impacts of incineration. We also recognize that many residents have questions and concerns about how the program will work in practice, and would like to try to address these concerns and encourage residents to continue to engage as the town develops the new policy.
1. Every household will have one free trash can: Any household that can fit their trash in their provided trash cart would have their trash picked up free of charge every week. The Town is considering 35-, 48-, or 64-gallon trash carts, which hold 3, 4-5, or 6 standard kitchen trash bags per week respectively. A 2025 audit of over 1,400 households showed that 51% of households put out 35 gallons of trash or less, 81% put out 48 gallons or less, and 88% put out 64 gallons or less. Only Households that produce more waste than fits into their trash card could incur a fee. That fee could be in the form of the purchase of program-approved “overflow bags” (likely $2-5/bag). Or there could be an option for households routinely producing more trash than what fits in their trash bin to pay an annual fee to have a second bin (likely $100-200/year). Dumpsters will be exempt from this program, and the size of the initial trash can will be determined based on input from residents who filled out the Weigh in on Waste Bins Survey.
2. The town has not yet decided how large the waste bins will be, and you can still weigh in on it!: We encourage anyone in the town who hasn’t already to fill out the Waste Reduction & Modernization Program Feedback Survey. This survey is an opportunity to share your input on the size of the initial trash can, along with other aspects of the program design. There are bins on display at Cary Library, the Public Services Building, and the Town Offices to help you visualize each size. We encourage you to visit the bins and see how it feels to maneuver them. Please note that the sample bins are just to give you an idea of the size—they are not necessarily the exact brand or model of the bins that the Town would purchase.
3. The town will work to accommodate lower income households and households with disabilities: The town is exploring offering a financial hardship program for those who qualify for assistance and may not be able to afford the extra fees, and is gathering input for seniors and those with mobile disabilities. Those who produce medical waste will also be accommodated on a case-by-case basis, and the town will work directly with the Commission on Disability and the Council on Aging as they continue to develop this policy. If you have specific concerns about your situation, you can contact the Waste Reduction Task Force here, and/or contact the Select Board here, and the town will work to address these concerns. We all want to make this new policy as equitable as possible, and your input would be welcome.
We would like to thank everyone who worked hard to support this amendment, and we hope that those who were against it will stay involved and participate in town-wide discussions on our future trash program. Most people like the idea of reducing waste, so let’s work together toward that goal. Please check the town’s FAQ page for more information about this policy.
Sources
Scales, Maggie. “No-Voters Fall Short, Changes to Trash Bylaw Stand.” The Lexington Observer, 16 June 2026, lexobserver.org/2026/06/16/lexington-passes-trash-fee-vote-with-low-voter-turnout/.
“Frequently Asked Questions.” Frequently Asked Questions – CivicPlus.CMS.FAQ, Town of Lexington, lexingtonma.gov/m/faq?cat=146. Accessed 17 June 2026.