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. Organized Collection In the process of research, planning and discussion so far, the Solid Waste Commission has revisited the original set of goals many times. . Some of the goals can be met now. These are the goals concerned with standards of service. They were included in the list in the first place to assure residents that the proposed system would maintain high standards of service. Residents can find most of these options by shopping around and making good choices. . The goal of using billing mailings as a vehicle for public education is also one that can be met now, with the cooperation of the haulers. . The goal of composting is probably unrealistic at this time, although Cities should keep an eye on developments in this technology. But the Big Three are (I) lower prices, (2) fewer bucks, and (3) community control over where our garbage goes. These are not trivial goals or imaginary issues. These themes carne up over and over again in the documents of other cities and counties that considered changes in solid waste management. In this study the Solid Waste Commission found that organized collection is the most effective, if not the only, way to achieve these goals in the long term: . . Cities with organized collection do get lower prices for their residents. . Garbage trucks do make an impact on our infrastructure and quality oflife. The biggest difference can be made by reducing the number of trucks on our streets and making sure the trucks that remain are "greener". . Finally, organized collection can ensure that important decisions, especially decisions about what happens to our trash, are made our community, not determined by corporate managers driven by business priorities. There are disadvantages to organized collection, especially the loss of choice of haulers, which is very important to some residents. There would be increased workload for City staff managing a change of this magnitude. The time window for the City to implement organized collection may be linrited. In 2003 the waste hauling industry sponsored legislation that would have taken away the rights of local governments to adopt public collection. Continued consolidation of the industry in the future could leave residents with few choices, no power in the market place and no power to make sound environmental choices about municipal solid waste. There will always be an option to return from a city contract system to an open system, but the reverse may not be possible in the future. Potential Advantages of Organized Collection . . Lower consumer prices: Cities which have adopted organized collection have been able to negotiate lower rates for their residents. With a city contract, operational cost efficiencies can come back to residents in lower prices. City of Falcon Heights Final Report on Organized Collection October 13, 2004 31