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. Garbage truck wear and tear does make a difference to our streets and roads. We can . make our infrastructure last longer if we can reduce the number of trucks . Rate increases will be structured and predictable for the duration of the contract. . Residents would have a clear, one-stop menu of services and costs and will not have to try to compare apples to oranges. Busy residents will save time and energy not having to shop around . A contract can specify where our refuse goes, whether to a landfill or for fuel processing. We can ensure this decision serves local interests and local environmental goals, not corporate priorities. . Fewer trucks means less noise and air pollution in our neighborhoods . Rates can be better structured to encourage reduction of waste, including the ability to offer pay-as-you-throw options for residents who produce a very low volume of trash. . With a contract, the City could control the size and quality of trucks used, specifying lower pollution, better loading and weight bearing technology. Dependable city business can assure smaller haulers that new truck for use in Falcon Heights is a good investment, helping to level the playing field. . A city contract can enforce good service by building schedule offmes and escrow account into the contract. A contract can insist on a local phone number for service calls, answered by a local person. . City would have a way of enforcing the Waste Management Act that requires residents of communities with over 5000 people to have garbage picked up. There is . no way under the present system. . Although it would require a change in the City Code, an organized system could be structured so that different zones of the City could have their collection on different days, including Monday (which residents have asked for). The schedule could rotate every year or two, to give everyone a chance at that popular Monday collection day. Potential Disadvantages of Organized Collection . Although customers would have a choice of service levels, they would lose the choice of service provider. . A major public education effort would be required to malce everyone aware of the changes, and the transition would be more difficult for people who are uncomfortable witb change. . Some residents may experience an increase in price over the artificially low rates offered by haulers campaigning against organized collection . Residents will have to choose their services from the standard set offered. This may not include some services they receive now. . There would be an increased administrative burden associated with getting a new system up and running, including developing the RFP, evaluating proposals, developing a contract agreement. The City would also have to mouitor and enforce the terms of the contract. . City of Falcon Heights Final Report on Organized Collection October 13, 2004 32