Officials Looking into Public-Private Partnership to Clean up York Beaches

Following complaints about the lack of trash pickup at Short Sands Breach, York, Maine officials could pitch a partnership with business owners to address the issue.

York Beach saw its trash pickup end in 2020 in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, trash pickup never returned to the beach. Due to inflation and other issues with the past trash collection model, Town Manager Peter Joseph claims a return to municipal trash pickup could cost upwards of $1.4 million a year.

Joseph did pitch an alternate solution, however. This solution would see a public-private partnership with business owners which could solve the problem without incurring significant costs to taxpayers.

Following an influx of complaints this year from business owners, a Selectboard held a public hearing on the pros and cons of the current carry-in, carry-out policy.

While this policy is working for some beaches, others, such as Short Sands Beach, are facing issues of litter. Business owners say beachgoers are enjoying businesses, buying food, but then have no trash receptacles nearby to throw out their waste.

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