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This page is an opportunity for you, the residents of Fort Collins, to share your thoughts on City operations and decisions. Stay informed, and help us to do the same!
TRASH SERVICE STUDY
WHAT
A new study is now available that analyzes Fort Collins’ trash collection system and what could be done to improve it.
WHY
Some community members expressed concerns that multiple trash and recycling trucks negatively impact the community's air quality, safety, and noise pollution. At the same time, the City is examining the conditions of our streets and the costs to maintain them. Undoubtedly, increased truck traffic on residential streets results in additional maintenance needs.
OPTIONS
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Create Trash Districts: Instead of the open market competition residents now use, haulers would be awarded exclusive contracts for specific parts of town.
View Pros & Cons »
- Pros
- Fewer miles traveled (VMTs) by trash vehicles, and therefore lower pavement management cost.
- Greater diversion of recyclable materials and progress toward the 50% diversion goal.
- Improved air quality by reduced VMTs.
- Haulers can make business decisions based on long-term account projections.
- Improved neighborhood aesthetics by consolidating to one day of trash pick up (only one day when trash cans are on the street).
- Fewer trucks in neighborhoods increase safety.
- Cons
- Eliminates choice of hauler for residential customers.
- Change in collection day for many customers.
- Some haulers may not be successful in securing service contracts for a district(s).
- Increased City administrative costs.
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Increase regulation on haulers: The City could make changes to the licensing requirements of haulers, including limiting load weights, truck emission and noise standards.
View Pros & Cons »
- Pros
- Maintains choice of hauler for residential customers
- Greater diversion of recyclable materials and progress toward 50% diversion goal with minim diversion standards.
- Improved air quality by requiring higher environmental standards for trash trucks.
- No change in collection day for many customers.
- Haulers can make business decisions based on expectations that the City is not about to change the competitive environment.
- Haulers can maintain their market share of residential customers.
- Cons
- No reduction in number of trucks on the residential streets and associated costs for street maintenance.
- No change in trash service rates.
- No improvements in the vehicle miles traveled (VMT’s) for trash vehicles.
- Increased City administrative costs.
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Focus on Increasing Recycling: There are a number of strategies identified in the study that could help increase recycling rates including incentives for both residents and trash haulers.
View Pros & Cons »
- Pros
- Could provide incentives for trash haulers that increase diversion rates.
- Could provide incentives for residential customers designed to increase recycling.
- Cons
- Increased regulation and tracking of recycling could increase costs for trash haulers.
- Increased costs could result in increased rates.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Fill out the online comment form and tell us what you think about the options presented in the study, and which ideas would be worth further investigation.
WHAT'S NEXT
Community Meeting: September 3, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Northside Aztlan Community Center, 112 East Willow Work Session Discussion: City Council will have its next discussion about trash services at its September 23 Work Session. Tune in on Channel 14 , view the meeting online at fcgov.com/cable14, or watch in person at City Hall, 6:00 p.m.
LEARN MORE
Past Topics
