Horsepower Wins Town’s Trash Contract

BRISTOL, Vt. —  Patrick Palmer beat out the competition to become Bristol’s garbage man because he had what others didn’t: a horse and carriage.

Selectmen in this 200-year-old town were impressed by Palmer’s plan to pick up the trash sans truck.

“This is pretty unique; that’s why he got the bid,” Town Administrator Bob Hall said May 27, Palmer’s first day as Bristol’s new trash hauler.

Palmer and his two draft horses, Luke and Zack, cover the eight-mile route at a leisurely pace, moving through the traffic of Bristol’s one main street without a hitch, and stopping briefly every once in a while to let Palmer’s nephew, Jake, jump off to throw the trash into the wagon.

The route, which he covers twice--once to pick up garbage and once to pick up recycling--takes all day.

Selectmen for the town of 3,900 chose Palmer over three other bidders even though two of the contenders--both private citizens with trucks--put in bids that were $600 or $700 lower than his. Palmer will be paid $15,600 for the year.

“I think Bristol’s trying to create a friendly image, a small-town atmosphere,” Hall said.

Prindle Wissler Mullin, an artist from Middlebury who had stopped in Bristol for lunch, said she hoped the town’s decision to hire Palmer signaled a trend away from modernization and development.

“We’re going in the other direction, hopefully,” said Mullin, 85.

Palmer, 50, drew some waves and greetings from friends, but no undue notice as he passed through town.

“If I had a bigger rig, or more room in there, it would be just as quick as the truck,” Palmer said.

If the horses leave anything behind, Jake picks it up with a shovel and throws it in the wagon.

Palmer is Bristol’s first private trash collector; until now, the town has done the job itself.

“I think that $600 [above the lower bids] is well worth it,” said Suzanne Widlicka, whose home and clothing store is on Palmer’s route. “It’s our past and it’s worth preserving.”