Concord’s new solid waste contract, set to take effect in July, brings with it a $306,345 increase to the proposed city budget.

Last year, Concord secured another 10-year solid waste management contract with Casella, which replaces what city officials have celebrated as one of the most cost-effective contracts in the region.

Under the highly praised current agreement, which expires at the end of June, the city pays approximately $70 per ton for municipal solid waste disposal, while recycling services are free. This contract has been hailed by city manager Thomas Aspell at the recent finance committee meeting as “the best solid waste contract in New England if not this side of the Mississippi.”

However, with the new contract, disposal costs are expected to rise to about $100 per ton for municipal solid waste. Moreover, recycling will now cost $100 per ton. The difference between the existing contract and the new contract is $1.2 million.

The new contract has added $306,345 in tax dollars to the general fund budget. In the coming years, it is said to increase to $600,000 and then $900,000.

“I decided to do only $300,000 this year,” said Aspell. “You could increase this transfer higher but that of course is just going to increase taxes.”

After three years, the expenses are expected to stabilize, reaching a plateau of $2 million.

Beyond the financial implications, the solid waste contract will have a change in the method of disposal. No longer will Concord’s waste be transported over 80 miles to the North Country Environmental Services landfill in Bethlehem for burial. Instead, it will find its destination at the Wheelabrator incineration facility in Penacook, owned by WIN Waste Innovations.

Furthermore, as part of the contractual obligations, the city is mandated to adopt an automated collection system by July 1, 2028. Concord is laying the groundwork in preparation for this transition, with plans underway to initiate a pilot program for the automated collection system in July 2026.