Friday, April 26, 2024
Big changes are coming in garbage collection and recycling for Gatesville residents, aimed at helping to enhance the cleanliness of the community and also improve convenience.
The Gatesville City Council approved a new contract with Waste Management, which takes effect in 2023. The old way of putting out self-provided trash cans will be replaced, and the frequency of garbage collection will also change. Gatesville residents will receive one 96-gallon cart for trash and another 96-gallon cart for recycling.
Trash collection will be once per week with recycling service provided every other week. When the trash carts are delivered to homes, an information packet with details about garbage collection, recycling, and household hazardous waste collection will provide details — including the designated collection days.
"Over the past year or so, based on your guidance, I have been working with Paul Daugereau (the public sector solutions manager for Waste Management in Central Texas) on a new contract," City Manager Bill Parry told the Council.
"Change is always hard — we've had an evergreen contract with Waste Management for 36 years, but technology and reality are changing that."
Gatesville is among the last communities served by Waste Management that are converting from the old-style garbage collection with men or women riding on the backs of trucks and picking up cans individually to an automated system in which carts are picked up mechanically.
"You have had this contract since 1986 and the contract has rolled over every four years, and we've had guys on the back of a truck picking up your waste," Daugereau said. "It's tough these days to find people who are willing to do that. Guys can get an easier job for more money."
Morgan's Point Resort was the most recent community served by Waste Management to switch to the automated service, and before that, Belton, Robinson, Harker Heights and Bellmead have all made the change.
In addition to once-a-week trash collection and every other week recycling, once per month bulk collection will be offered, along with an optional household hazardous waste collection at residents' doors.
Items such as chemicals, electronics, pesticides and herbicides, sharp items, old batteries and even old electronics will be collected. The resident wanting that service would either call Waste Management or access the website to schedule the hazardous waste collection.
"The good thing about this is that over 90% (of the hazardous materials) are recycled," Daugereau said. "That helps to keep these items from going into the landfill or ending up in a ditch somewhere.
"With curbside recycling, you'll have one of the best recycling services in the area. Belton and Robinson love it."
Although one trash cart and one recycling cart will be provided as part of the standard monthly fee, additional carts will be available for $5 each per month.
Many of the items that would otherwise be placed in the trash, such as most cardboard, paper and plastic containers, can be placed in the recycling bin, which frees up additional space in trash cans for waste that is not recyclable.
"There's no doubt this is a big change, but it's much cleaner — rodents can't get in and deer can't knock the containers over," Daugereau said. "Going to the new service made a big change in that community, making things much cleaner and getting a lot of trash off the streets. This type of service really improves the way the community looks."
Delivery of the new carts will be made in January, and the automated trash and recycling service is scheduled to begin Feb. 6.
"I have talked to people and recycling is not a part of their process," said Council member Barbara Burrow. "Will there be a list of what can and can't be recycled?"
Daugereau said a list will be provided once the carts are delivered, and it is also imprinted on the lids of the carts themselves.
"People will learn quickly that if they put cardboard and plastics in the recycling bin, they'll free up a lot of space in the trash cart," Parry said. "Some will resist and say, 'You can't make me do it' — but as a City Council, for public health and safety you can."
City Manager Greg Casey said he has lived in other communities that had the recycling carts, and it was a quick and easy process that quickly became routine.
"The city will be much cleaner and you'll see less trash on the street," Daugereau said. "Any major city that does their own trash collection also does this. It's the modern way to do this, it's cleaner, looks better and improves home values. It helps a lot."
City Council member Claude Williams asked if Waste Management will accept tires.
"We don't take tires," Daugereau said. "They take up too much space in the landfill and nobody wants them."
Parry said the city may consider taking tires during a collection event once a year, but added that when people purchase new tires, they pay a fee to the business where the purchase is made that covers taking and recycling tires.
Casey asked what residents can do with their old trash cans if they do not want them.
"About three weeks into the change, people will be able to put out their old trash cans with a note asking them to be collected," Daugereau said.
Council member John Westbrook said his 89-year-old father lives in Robinson and that he loves the automated service Waste Management provides.
"It's so much cleaner and nicer," Daugereau said. "It really does make a city better.
Parry said the city's utility yard, located near the fire station, will remain open on the second and fourth Saturday of the month to accept bulk materials.
