Grafton Raises PAYT Trash Bag Prices as Town Drops Taxpayer Subsidy

**Thursday, July 2** — Grafton's pay-as-you-throw trash bag prices increased effective Tuesday, July 1, as the town adjusts PAYT pricing to fully fund curbside collection operations through user fees, eliminating previous reliance on taxpayer support. Residents purchasing new bags will see the updated prices reflected at local retailers.

**Friday, July 3** — Municipal offices will be closed Friday in observance of Independence Day. Curbside trash and recycling collection by E.L. Harvey will run on its normal schedule, so residents should put bins out as usual.

**Friday, July 3** — Grafton Public Library will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. The library's Summer Reading program — themed "Plant a Seed — Read!" — continues for all ages when the library reopens.

**Saturday, July 4** — Grafton's Annual Fourth of July Parade steps off from North Street Elementary School. The family event will feature food, music, floats, and more. Residents are invited to decorate bikes at the starting point using free red, white, and blue decorations provided on site. A "Doggy Mayor" competition is also part of this year's festivities — owners can enter their dogs for a chance at the title during the celebration.

**Saturday, July 4** — The American Legion is hosting a Fourth of July Pig Roast as part of Grafton's America 250 commemoration. Details are listed on the town events calendar at grafton-ma.gov.

Grafton Patch reports on area Independence Day weekend events, including the parade, in "🌱 Patch AM: 4th of July Parade and 11 more events": https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton

**Coming up — Tuesday, July 7** — The Select Board will hold its regular meeting. A joint special meeting between the Planning Board and Select Board is also scheduled for the same evening. Agendas will be posted to grafton-ma.gov ahead of the meetings.

**Coming up — Thursday, July 9** — The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a revised public meeting, and the Charter Review Committee will take up Section 3 of its review. Both meetings are listed on the town calendar.

**Coming up — Wednesday, July 8** — The Grafton Farmers Market returns for its regular weekly Wednesday session. The market continues each Wednesday through at least July 22.

**Coming up — Summer 2026** — Grafton Public Schools has announced summer device pickup sessions for incoming students. Sixth graders can pick up their Chromebooks, and new Grafton High School students and incoming ninth graders can attend iPad deployment sessions. Dates and locations are posted on the district website at graftonps.org.