Woolwich residents take note: pay-per-bag for non-recyclable trash is set to begin the first week of August.

David King, Sr. said the selectboard expects to finalize the contract with WasteZero when they meet Monday evening, July 6 at the town office. King told the newspaper the board will review the 18-page contract with the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee at a workshop meeting scheduled for 5 p.m.

“We’ve been told the soonest they (WasteZero) would be ready is Aug. 3, and that’s the date we’ve been telling people it's going to start,” King said Wednesday afternoon.

Town officials have asked WasteZero to sell its bags, at Shaw’s Supermarket in Bath and Wiscasset, Cumberland Farms, Ames True Value, Roger’s Hardware and at the town office. The bags will be sold for $2 per 30-gallon bag, and $1 per 15-gallon bag.

Receipts from the bag sales are shared between WasteZero and the town.

King said curbside trash and recycling pickup will continue as it has, Monday throughout town for recyclables, and Tuesday and Wednesday for trash pickup depending on where people live.

Town Administrator Lynette Eastman said the town office had been receiving a lot of telephone calls from residents asking when pay-per-bag was starting.

Initially, the selectboard had hoped to start the program July 1 to coincide with the town’s fiscal year but WasteZero needed more time King said.

As previously reported WasteZero’s has estimated the town could realize a 40 percent reduction in its non-recyclable trash saving the town approximately $32,500 in tipping fees. Monies generated from bag sales would also be earmarked for tipping fees and other waste disposal costs.

Pay-per-bag was approved by voters at the May 13 special town meeting.