City Council district meetings talking trash

[RecycleMichael]

Tomorrow night is the first of nine public meetings to discuss how Tulsa offers residential trash collection and other options like recycling and yard waste composting. The city contract for hauling trash expires in June of 2012 ans now is the time to really hear from the residents on what kind of service is desired and affordable.

There will be a meeting in every council district, so don't feel as if you miss this first one you can't participate.

There have been no decisions made and there are many options to choose from. Do we want to use trash cans that we each buy or city-provided carts? Do we want recycling bins, carts or no recycling collection at all? Do we prefer bags for grass clipppings and leaves or should the city offer polycarts for collection? Should trash be collected once-a-week or twice-a-week? Should recyclables be picked up every week or every other week? Should there be a limit on the amounts of yard waste collected?

I have been to cities all over the country and have seen a wide variety of services offered. The rates range from less than $10 per month to well over $25 per month. Tulsa's system is very unique and because the expiring contract is over 30 years old, if there are no changes there will probably be some hefty increases charged to the residents.

I applaud City Councilor Bynum for leading the decision to get public input now rather than waiting too late to truly educate and then listen to the attendees. The first meeting is in his district on Monday night at the Unitarian Church on Peoria. The meeting starts at 6pm and shouldn't last more than a couple of hours.

Part of the meeting will be similar to the meetings held on PlanitTulsa. Think of it as TrashitTulsa.

[sgrizzle]

Is there a meeting schedule?

[RecycleMichael]

Is there a meeting schedule?

Not yet finalized. After the first one, they should be every Monday and Tuesday in April. Your south Tulsa district is tentavely scheduled to be on April 20th.

[custosnox]

And once a week seems to be getting closer, along with the possibilities of trash bins and pay per amount billing.

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/tulsa-trash-pick-up-could-be-cut-to-once-a-week

TULSA - Tulsa residents could be taking their trash out to the curb less often. The city is looking into cutting trash pick-ups to once a week.

Right now 80 percent of Tulsans take their trash out twice a week. In the northwest part of the city, crews only pick up trash once a week. That could soon become the norm.
"All individuals, almost 95 percent individuals are happy with their service, regardless of the service they receive, and people do not want to have any rate changes, or specifically rate increases," said Beverly Anderson, the chairwoman of the Refuse and Recycling Task Force. She says the city came to this conclusion after three separate studies involving residents.

Last week the mayor's task force recommended the city start picking up trash once, not twice a week. The city would then pick up recycling once a week also. Recycling would be included under the service fee for trash pick up. Residents would pay based on how much trash they throw out.
"We learned people would really like a system where what they use they pay for, and what they don't use they don't have to pay for," Anderson said.

The city is also considering providing residents with trash carts. Anderson says it's too early to tell how much these changes would cost the city.

Tulsa resident Cathy Enterline sees pros and cons to the plan.
"I think if you went to once a week it would be difficult, I think you'd have three or four trash cans per household sitting out," she said.

She likes the idea of city-provided trash cans, as long as they don't cost the city too much. But she doesn't think the changes in trash pick up would get more people recycling. She says it comes down to convenience and cost.
"I would pay to have the frequency and less trash cans. I would hate it if they went to once a week," she said.

The Tulsa Authority for the Recovery of Energy board will take a look at the recommendations this week. The board, along with the mayor and city councilors will decide what plan to go with.

[TeeDub]

I have been to cities all over the country and have seen a wide variety of services offered. The rates range from less than $10 per month to well over $25 per month. Tulsa's system is very unique and because the expiring contract is over 30 years old, if there are no changes there will probably be some hefty increases charged to the residents.

Why would you presume there would be large increases to keep the service as it is today?

Does it run at a significant loss currently?  

[RecycleMichael]

Why would you presume there would be large increases to keep the service as it is today?

Does it run at a significant loss currently?  

Yes. The city is subsidizing the rate on average of at least a dollar a month per household. They are using excess TARE funds.

I also believe the contracts will be returned with higher prices because the contract has not been bid out since 1979. Everything has changed since then, including workmen's compensation rates for a style of service that gets trash workers hurt. The current contractor has the most decrepit fleet of of trash trucks (they only run because the termites are holding hands). The next contractor is going to have to finance a new fleet which will also add to the bid prices.

It would be very difficult to bid out the current level of service. I believe most potential bidders would simply not bid if Tulsa tried to keep the same assortment of bags/barrels/cans with options of backyard/curbside/low generator.

If Tulsa goes out to bid with a contract that keeps everything the same, I would predict a rate increase of at least 25% the first year.