Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Executive Summary <br /> <br />'When the Falcon Heights City Council passed a resolution of intent to organize waste <br />collection under the terms ofMlnnesota Statute 115A.94 on March 24, 2004, Council <br />members emphasized that final decision on organized collection would depend on the <br />results of more in-depth study of the issues. The Council authorized the Solid Waste <br />Commission to undertake this study and allowed an additional three months beyond the <br />minimum 90 day planning period for the Conunission to complete that work. <br /> <br />Of the 16 goals in the original list that was approved by the Council on January 28, 2004, <br />most, especially those related to quality service, are being met now under the existing <br />open system, especially when residents "shop wisely" for service. The Conunission <br />focused its research on the areas where they felt the City's goals are not being met, <br />addressing the following questions: <br /> <br />. Do Falcon Heights residents pay more for trash pickup than residents of cities that <br />have organized collection? <br />. Would it make a real difference to our quality of life and our community <br />infrastructure ifwe hadfewer garbage trucks on our streets? <br />. What is the best environmental practice in disposing of the trash we do not recycle or <br />compost? And is it important for citizens to have a voice in determining where their <br />garbage goes? <br /> <br />The Commission's major fmdings are as follows: <br /> <br />. Falcon Heights residents do pay more for garbage collection than residents of cities <br />with organized collection. <br /> <br />.. Small container Medium container Large container <br /> (30 - 38 oallon) (60 - 68 aallan) (90 - 98 aallons) <br />Average io Falcon Heights (not $13.59 $15.56 $17.17 <br />includinn tax and C.E.C.) <br />Average of Little Canada, <br />Shakopee, White Bear Lake, <br />Stillwater and Narth SI. Paul (all $8.13 $10.07 $12.19 <br />organized; tax and CEC not <br />included) <br /> <br />Table 1 <br />. Significant savings in operating costs can be realized by efficiency - using fewer <br />trucks to serve more households. In an open system those savings go to increased <br />profits for haulers, not lower prices for customers. <br /> <br />. Extra garbage trucks on our streets and alleys do have a significant impact, according <br />to the definitive study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research <br />Institute. Vehic1e axle weight is the largest determining factor in pavement wear, and <br />garbage trucks account for a major share of the total weight load on our streets. <br /> <br />City of Falcon Heights Final Report on Organized Collection <br />October 13, 2004 <br /> <br />3 <br />