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Refuse
Collection, Public Hearing
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on City Refuse Pilot and Collection alternatives.
[Jan. 2007, of Dec.
2006 news release]
Rockville to Hold Feb. 20 Public Hearing
On Proposed Refuse, Recycling Changes
Once-a-Week Collections Would Include
Modernized System,
Reduce Employee Injuries, Keep Costs Lower
ROCKVILLE, Md., December 19, 2006 - The
City of Rockville may be moving toward modernized systems of collecting refuse
and recycling, but the Mayor and Council first want to hear from the public on
the potential changes
including whether refuse collections
should continue at twice a week or become once a week to control spiraling
costs.
A public hearing on the proposed changes
is scheduled for the Rockville Mayor and Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at
7 p.m. at Rockville City Hall. [The meeting is on Tuesday instead of their
regular Monday time slot due to the President's
Day,
holiday on Feb. 19.]. Any citizen wishing to express an opinion on the issue can
do so during the public hearing.
On Dec. 11, following a presentation by
the City
Department of Public Works, the Mayor and Council discussed the need to make
several changes to refuse and recycling collection, but they reached no final
decision pending a public hearing.
The Mayor and Council heard final survey
results from 776 households that were part of a nine-month pilot program that
started in March 2006. In that program, households were given rolling carts for
trash and recycling. Exactly 358 households responded, with 95 percent rating
collection quality either
excellent or
good. Among those responding, 93 percent were
satisfied
or very satisfied with the pilot program.
Citywide implementation of the pilot program was
recommended by 82 percent of those responding. Only six percent said they would
not recommend the program be expanded citywide. Of those responding, 11 percent
expressed no opinion.
Staff recommended Citywide changes for a
variety of reasons, including controlling costs, increasing recycling, improving
neighborhood cleanliness, decreasing worker injuries and reducing miles traveled
by collection vehicles.
Currently, households pay $31 a month for
refuse and recycling collection (that fee also includes leaf, yard waste and
oversized appliances pickups). If the current system was left unchanged, it is
estimated that the cost per month by 2020 would almost double to about $61 per
month.
If the changes are implemented, including
semi-automated collection (in which refuse workers roll wheeled carts to a
truck, then mechanical lifters empty the carts) and once a week collections, the
cost by 2020 is estimated to be about $47 per month on average per household
(rates under the proposed system would vary by the size of refuse container
selected by the customer).
"It
should be absolutely obvious that the current system is not sustainable,"
said Mayor Larry Giammo.
Under the recommended changes, all
households would receive wheeled carts for refuse and recycling. Four tiers of
rates would be set, depending upon how much refuse a household generates. Carts
as large as 96 gallons would cost an estimated $38.13 per month in the next
fiscal year. The smallest cart (32 gallons) would cost about $26.13 per month.
For recycling, the recommended changes include going to a "single-stream"
system with all basic recycling items:
paper, cardboard,
plastic, cans and glass placed into a single
cart without separating the items.
The
pilot program, which used a "dual-stream"
system that
required paper items be separated from other items, still generated an increase
in recycled materials. Of items collected during the trial, 43 percent were
designated for recycling. The citywide average is about 35 percent. It is
believed the "single-stream"
system would increase recycling by an amount even greater than the pilot
achieved.
For more
information about the Rockville Refuse and Recycling Program, call the City
Department
of Public Works at 240-314-8500
Click here for more information. or contact
Theodis Perry by e-mail.
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Last updated: Jan. 17. 2007.