PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has taken a move toward toters, preliminarily approving a five-year contract with Casella Waste Management.

After hours of deliberation, councilors on Monday gave the initial OK for an agreement that uses automated collection instead of unlimited trash pickup.  A final vote will be taken next week.

"I think people are nervous of change, people don't like change, toters are a scary thing — carts as you call them. There's hills everywhere, there's one-way streets everywhere, there's snow everywhere. It gets figured out in other places. There will be hiccups, there will be problems," Councilor at Large Earl Persip III said, adding that he is hopeful about Casella providing the service because they have been "a great team member."

"I am encouraged that you are actually rolling out our toter program if it passes."

The city currently spends about $5.2 million on trash per year and the new contract would trim the budget by about $600,000 to $4.6 million.

Pittsfield's nearly 17,400 households produce about 1,800 pounds of trash per household annually, collectively generating close to 20 tons as a community.  The proposal aims to reduce each household's waste to 1,370 pounds annually.

Casella representatives Stephen Haeder and Kilian Flynn answered queries ranging from customer service and pickup times to a $120 yearly sticker that allows residents to access the Hubbard Avenue transfer station and have free recycling and yard waste.

"Every transfer station that I've run or every transfer station that has a drop-off, throughout Berkshire County and throughout the area, has paid a sticker and it fluctuates anywhere from $85 to $150," Flynn said when told the $120 price tag was high.