Johnston and North Providence officials say they might change their communities’ trash-collection services to save money.

Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena wants to explore the potential savings of gathering trash every two weeks instead of weekly. North Providence officials are exploring a “pay-as-you-throw” program, in which residents would pay user fees for trash removal.

“It’s all about saving money,” Polisena said.

The existing contract between Johnston and Rambone Disposal Services, a Johnston-based trash-hauler, expires on June 30.

Polisena proposes a three-month extension that would accommodate a bidding process and also let officials assess the program before they sign a longer contract.

The town budgeted almost $1.5 million for garbage collection in the fiscal year that ends June 30.

Polisena said he would prefer to make adjustments to the service instead of levying user fees. He said he will investigate any cost-savings ideas that come up and mentioned the possibility of collecting trash every other week.

“If I can save a substantial amount,” he said, “it’s going to be every other week.”

Meanwhile, North Providence councilmen met last week with Sarah Kite, an official at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp. who helps towns establish recycling programs.

Mayor Charles A. Lombardi’s budget seeks about $1.9 million for that town’s trash-collection program.

About $1.3 million of that money pays for trash-hauling and recycling expenses. Another $540,000 covers the tipping fees that North Providence must pay to use the state’s Central Landfill. (As the landfill’s “host community,” Johnston doesn’t have to pay any tipping fees.)

North Providence councilmen believe they might be able to save substantial money by having a system of fees for trash disposal. As part of his deficit-elimination plan, Councilman Paul Caranci estimates that a system of fees for trash disposal would save at least $1.4 million.

On June 2, Kite advised the council that the potential savings would range from $1.1 million to $1.7 million, depending on the cost of user fees. In other communities, the fees range from $1.25 per bag of trash to about $2.50.

“The fees, if you want to, can completely pay for the program,” Kite said, emphasizing that a fee-system can free up money in the budget.

Fee systems also encourage people to sort out recyclables to lighten their wasteload.

“It really rewards the recyclers,” Kite said. “It rewards the people who are doing the right thing.”

The councilmen opted to invite Kite to a meeting of the panel’s Finance Committee so they can gather more information.

Lombardi has made recycling issues a focus of his administration. He said he finds the bag system promising, but the town needs to figure out how it can raise money to purchase the special garbage bags it would sell.

Lombardi also wants assurance that any savings from a fee-based system would benefit taxpayers, not government.

“If it’s going to be just another way of taxing the taxpayer than it’s not going to happen,” he said.

mreynold@projo.com