Friday, October 6, 2000
Friday, October 6, 2000 |
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Late-night dumpster noise targeted by PTC, citizens By JOHN MUNFORD An ordinance is in the works to address citizen complaints of late-night noise created by the emptying of dumpsters throughout Peachtree City. A concrete solution might be elusive, however, since sanitation companies want to empty dumpsters after business and school hours for safety reasons. The city has solicited complaints from citizens through the monthly Update newsletter that is sent to each residence. So far, the 13 verified complaints deal mostly with operations at commercial buildings and local schools. For example, dumpsters emptied in the area near McDonald's and Chick-Fil-A can be heard by Morgan's Turn residents. Similarly, dumpsters emptied at Kedron Elementary and Kedron Fieldhouse are causing some grief for those in the Fielding Ridge area. Eastbrook Office Park, the new Sherwin-Williams store and Braelinn Shopping Center have also been reported as sites where noise from emptying dumpsters is annoying residents in the late night hours. City staff recently met with representatives of two sanitation companies that provide service to Peachtree City, said Public Information Specialist Betsy Tyler. Several other companies were sent invitations but the mail was returned undeliverable by the post office, she said. The two representatives David Langus from EPI and Gerald Matthews of Waste Management of Atlanta opposed a total ban on emptying dumpsters at night. Langus said the school board doesn't want its dumpsters serviced while children are present, which lasts from 7 a.m. until the late afternoon and evening due to after-school events. Operating the trucks at night is safer since there is little traffic on the road to contend with, thereby improving efficiency of the drivers also, Langus added. The warning mechanism that beeps when the trucks back up is also important for safety concerns, Langus cited. Langus indicated that the truck drivers can help reduce noise, particularly in how the container is returned to the ground after it is emptied into the truck. Matthews said Waste Management of Atlanta only makes two or three stops in Peachtree City and all of them are along Ga. Highway 74 and are serviced before 7 a.m. Matthews and Langus recommended a system to handle dumpster noise complaints which would review each complaint on a case-by-case basis. They also suggested that dumpster location be considered in the building permit process to give adequate access to the dumpster while buffering the dumpsters from residential areas. It was also mentioned that pinpointing complaints could be difficult since several companies often service a specific area.
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