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PTC punts trash deal for nowFri, 11/07/2008 - 2:35pm
By: John Munford
The Peachtree City Council backpedaled off a proposal that would have required all city residents to use the same trash provider ... whether or not they even used the service. The plan, which was softened to allow any resident to opt out, was put on hold indefinitely by a unanimous council vote. Though any resident could have opted out of the proposed deal, they would not be allowed to hire another curbside garbage collection company, city officials said. That would leave hauling your own garbage to the county “dump” as likely the only other realistic option. But after taking more than two hours of comments from residents, some for but most against the plan, the idea was punted back to city staff to get more information. Some residents questioned whether CLM was the right choice of company to handle the service. City staff was asked to look into the possibility of requiring all trash haulers to provide recycling for all city customers and to include the additional price in the customers’ bills. One city trash hauler, Cardinal Sanitation, provides recycling as part of its waste hauling service for about the same price the other companies charge for trash hauling without recycling. Several council members said they had problems with going away from the current free market system. Under the proposed opt-out plan, CLM would have been allowed to seek council approval for a rate increase if more than 2 percent of city residents opt out; the company could also choose to either stay in the contract or cancel the contract, city officials said. Residents who choose to opt out of the proposed trash service would be able to haul their own trash to the county’s waste transfer station in Fayetteville, city officials said. Resident Julius Holt said he does that already and it only costs him $16 a year as opposed to the $45 a quarter the proposed service from CLM would cost. Holt was told he, like any other resident, would be allowed to opt out of the proposed curbside trash service if he chose. It was reported that Peachtree City only recycles 2 to 3 percent of its eligible waste each year, compared to 16 percent achieved in Fayetteville and 25 percent in Newnan and Union City. But some residents who addressed council called that figure into question. Others questioned the potential level of service CLM would provide. Resident Bob Smith said he previously had CLM as his trash service but he fired the company after they missed a trash pickup in his entire subdivision and failed to fix the problem by the next day. “CLM has not provided the kind of service that we expect,” Smith said. Resident Beth Pullias said it was “pathetic” that the city only recycles 2 to 3 percent of the eligible material that instead goes into landfills. Recycling is included in the proposed contract as residents would get a 65 gallon rollcart where all recyclables could be dumped without being sorted. This compares to the typical 95 gallon size trash cart that would also be provided to each resident. Participation in the recycling program would not be mandatory, according to city documents. Resident Phyllis Aguayo said some people she’s talked to are concerned about the quality of service and the potential recourse if they are dissatisfied with the service. Aguayo, like several other residents who spoke at the meeting, said she supported recycling. City Purchasing Manager Angela Egan said the program has a number of benefits including: Under the contract CLM would be allowed to increase the price every year based on the consumer price index to account for cost increases. The contract (is/was) proposed to start in April 2009. The city is not proposing to close down the recycling center, McMullen said. He added that increasing the city’s recycling efforts has been one of his main goals since he was hired as city manager. login to post comments
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