FALL RIVER — It costs big bucks for a community to manage its municipal waste, and Mayor Paul Coogan's administration and the City Council are looking for ways to cut its $8 million to $9 million annual bill while still collecting and disposing of trash and recycling. 

Changes have already begun, through efforts of the solid waste team Coogan assembled about 1½ years ago.

The city’s special counsel, Matthew Thomas, Director of City Operations Al Oliveira and Department of Community Maintenance Director Charlie Denmead last week briefed members of the Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs on those changes and its plans to reduce trash and disposal costs.

Read more from Jo C. Goode at heraldnews.com.