MOUNT VERNON — After hearing from several trash haulers during a special Utilities Committee meeting Monday evening, Councilman Chris Menapace said he is no longer interested in pursuing a preferred trash hauler program.
“Hearing from the haulers was a wonderful opportunity for me personally,” said Menapace, chairman of the committee. “I have learned it’s likely a bad idea. I could not have gotten there without this conversation.”
The impetus behind exploring a preferred trash hauler program included better pricing, better service, ensuring that trash gets picked up, making sure that every residence has trash pickup, reducing noise complaints, and preventing damage to curbs and streets. The proposed preferred program would achieve those goals by requiring haulers to provide various pricing options, including a la carte services; provide services for residents not able to get their trash and recyclables to the curb; and potentially limiting the size of the trash trucks used.
Sarah Mathews of Rumpke Waste & Recycling Services said those restrictions will drive up the cost substantially.
“The more requirements you put on me as a hauler, the more expensive it will be,” she said. “A preferred hauler program may do more harm than good.”
Mathews said dividing the city into quadrants with a specific pick-up day for each quadrant requires the hauler to be in the city four days vs. one day, drastically increasing the truck traffic. Limiting truck size requires the hauler to buy new trucks, and providing walk-up service, especially for bulk items, is a hazard to the driver.
Mathews said the city would be better off tightening noise and other ordinances to achieve the city’s goals.
“What is the benefit of being the preferred hauler?” asked Seth Ellington of Newark-based Waste Away Systems. “Keep in mind there has to be an incentive. What is the carrot?”
Menapace said being the preferred hauler would hopefully garner more business for the hauler. Ellington pointed out that there is nothing in the program that guarantees him customers since it does not prohibit other haulers from continuing to do business in the city.
“What if a competitor comes in and lowers his prices?” asked Ellington.
“After listening to Sarah and you talk, I don’t know that there is [a carrot],” said Menapace.
Menapace and Ellington agreed that there would be an incentive to be an exclusive hauler but not a preferred hauler.
Waste Away Systems only provides commercial trash and recycling in Mount Vernon. Ellington said that from a residential standpoint in Newark, the most contention stems from landlords not making it mandatory for tenants to have trash pickup.
“You’ve got to enforce it on the landlord or on the side of the person paying the bill,” he said.
He also said there is a transfer station “desert,” with the nearest transfer station 25 to 30 miles away. Looking at another disposal option would help haulers’ efficiency.
Rick Campbell, also of Waste Away Systems, said the company tried a preferred hauler program in a Heath subdivision last year.
“We didn’t have a very good experience with preferred hauler,” he said, adding there was no net gain in customers, but there was a net loss in revenue.
Councilman Matt Starr asked the haulers for input on three areas:
- Drivers thoughts on navigating the city’s streets
- Thoughts on how to prevent damages to curbs and water drains
- Could haulers work together and pick up all the trash in one day
Matthews and Mark Phillips of Mid-State Waste agreed drivers have difficulty getting through some of the streets, which is one reason why collecting in the early morning hours before school buses and rush hour traffic appear is beneficial. Regarding road damage, they suggested that drains be moved if possible. They also agreed that all of the haulers picking up on the same day would be inefficient.
Following the discussion, Menapace requested a 10-minute committee meeting be scheduled before council’s next legislative session on June 24. He plans to tell the full council that he will not pursue a preferred hauler program.
“Unless something changes from this panel, I am not interested in proceeding further,” he said. “A single hauler I know works, but we are not ready for that in this community, and I am not interested in pursuing that fight.”
Councilman Mike Hillier, who initially brought forth the idea of a preferred hauler, said he is interested in moving forward with complementary ordinances to make sure trash removal is enforced. Complementary areas include zoning, noise, and property maintenance ordinances along with licensing requirements for permitted haulers.
Council members Nancy Vail and John Francis agreed.
“We have ordinances and regulations on the books that need to be better upheld,” said Vail.
“We have laws to make irresponsible people responsible,” said Francis. “We have a property maintenance ordinance that we worked a long time on. Maybe we need to revisit it.”
