NARRAGANSETT — While neighboring South Kingstown studies the feasibility of hiring a single trash hauler, Narragansett is taking a wait-and-see approach with regard to trash and recyclables.

The town wants to know what South Kingstown residents would pay for curbside pickup should that town choose a single hauler.

If the cost is reasonable, Narragansett might consider the single-hauler approach, local officials say. Otherwise, Town Council members have said they prefer staying with a system of multiple haulers, who would have to be licensed and offer recycling.

Five months ago, it appeared the two towns might seek bids together from single haulers, but Narragansett council members concluded that hiring one hauler would put smaller, local haulers out of business.

The towns reviewed their trash and recycling options with help from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, which hoped to boost their shared recycling rate — 11 percent last year — by paying for a study.

The consultant recommended that the towns adopt a “franchise approach,” seeking special legislation that would let them choose single trash haulers that residents could hire to pick up trash and recyclables. Residents who did not hire the hauler could not choose another company but would still have the alternative, available now, of taking trash and recyclables to the Rose Hill Transfer Station in South Kingstown.

The approach was deemed to be both economically sound and logical, since residents in Narragansett and South Kingstown already hire their own trash haulers. South Kingstown sought the legislation and is seeking bids, but Narragansett is not, because of the concern about putting local haulers out of business, said council President T. Brian Handrigan.

“That was my reason,” he said.

Handrigan said the Narragansett council wants to see what kind of prices the local haulers can offer.

“I think what we’re saying to the locals is see if you can do it. See what the cost will be,” he said.

According to the recent study, the average cost per household under the existing system in the towns is about $26.50 a month, in most cases with no pickup of recyclables. Should the bids in South Kingstown come in significantly lower, Narragansett will have to “take a serious look,” said Town Manager Jeffry Ceasrine.

Narragansett Public Works Director David Ousterhout pointed to Middletown as an example of why the single-hauler approach deserves a serious look. The town recently hired one company to pick up trash and recyclables, with a pay-as-you-throw arrangement that is expected to cost most households $200 a year.

“We don’t have anybody now paying less than that and most of the people [in Narragansett] don’t get recycling,” he said.

The single-hauler option has not been without controversy in South Kingstown. Limiting residents to hiring one hauler hurts local businesses, takes away people’s rights and could lead to lawsuits, critics have said.

Narragansett faces its own challenges should it go with multiple haulers. Currently, the haulers in town pay a higher fee at the state Central Landfill because most do not offer recycling and the town does not verify that all the trash is from residents. For the haulers to pay lower fees and offer more competitive prices, the town would have to verify quantities for residential trash and recycled material.

Paying lower fees at the state transfer station also depends upon a community’s ability to live within its tonnage limit for trash, which is easier when more material is recycled, said Sarah Kite, recycling manager at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation.

redgar@projo.com