Grafton Raises PAYT Trash Bag Prices, Ends Taxpayer Subsidy for Solid Waste
Residents taking out the trash are paying more for Pay-As-You-Throw bags as of July 1, and the Select Board is recruiting volunteers for several open committee seats — two items that defined a quiet post-holiday week at town hall.
TOWN HALL
Grafton adjusted its PAYT trash bag prices effective July 1, 2026, restructuring solid-waste funding so that operations are fully covered by user fees rather than taxpayer support. The change affects all bag sizes sold at local retailers. Town officials framed the increase as a long-term correction to eliminate a reliance on the general tax base for a program designed to be self-sustaining.
Separately, the Select Board is seeking interested residents to fill vacancies on several boards and committees. Residents interested in serving can contact the Select Board office for details on which seats are open.
Both the Select Board and the Planning Board have revised meeting notices for Tuesday, July 7, including a joint session between the two bodies — an unusual pairing that typically signals active business on a land-use or development matter.
SCHOOLS
Grafton Public Schools is moving into summer technology deployment mode ahead of the Aug. 26 first day of school. Incoming sixth-graders are scheduled for Chromebook pickup this summer, and new students along with all entering ninth-graders at Grafton High School have iPad deployment sessions available. Families should check the district website for specific dates and times.
The district's Summer Enrichment 2026 program is also running, offering hands-on learning, artistic expression, and STEAM exploration for students across grade levels.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Grafton Public Library's Summer Reading program — "Plant a Seed -- Read!" — is open and running for all ages. Children, teens, and adults can participate through the summer. Drop-in Cribbage continues every Friday at the library for anyone looking for an informal game.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Popular Chinese Restaurant Celebrates Grand Reopening In Grafton" — A Grafton Chinese restaurant recently held a ribbon-cutting celebration marking a significant milestone for the business, per Grafton Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton)
COMING UP
- Tuesday, July 7: Amended Select Board meeting and a revised joint special meeting of the Select Board and Planning Board - Wednesday, July 8: Grafton Farmers Market returns for its weekly summer run - Thursday, July 9: Revised Zoning Board of Appeals public meeting; Charter Review Committee holds two sessions, including a meeting focused on Section 3