2011-11-22_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Page 2 oft Waste haulers dispute such comparisons. "They're not necessarily comparing apples to apples," said George Walter, who has run Blaine -based Walters Refuse & Recycling with his brother Greg for nearly two decades. Walter and others note that in areas where residents can choose their haulers, price schemes include different services and charges. For example, is yard waste included? Is there a rental fee for the bin? In fact, in an open system, any homeowner can strike whatever deal they can bargain with a hauler. But don't think you can really find out if you're paying too much. When the Pioneer Press requested price information from several haulers in open systems, they responded it was a protected business secret. "And if it was all about price, why do people go to Manny's or Outback to eat dinner instead of McDonald's or White Castle ?" Walter said. There's something else odd about the politics of garbage: The waste haulers and residents are silent in cities that already have gone to a one - hauler system. "You go next door to Little Canada and Vadnais Heights and you don't have people storming City Hall demanding their God -given rights to choose a garbage hauler," Pratt observed. In 1993, when Hastings, where Waste Management has consistently won the single - hauler contract, considered opening up its system, leaders sensed no momentum for any change, City Administrator David Osberg said. "It reduces traffic. It saves money. Overall, it's been a very good system, and the public seems to agree," he said. In the end, Coon Rapids may explore some compromise with haulers to eliminate the everyday parade of trucks in every corner of town - a prospect several haulers said they're open to discussing. In the meantime, there's always the grassroots method. In May, one St. Paul resident, fed up with his alley being clogged by any one of the 23 residential haulers who operate in the city, rallied his neighbors to pick one hauler. He persuaded 22 of 24 families. Dave Orrick can be reached at dorrick @pioneerpress.com or 651 - 228 -2171. How is your trash trucked? Not all residential garbage is hauled equally. Here are the most common systems and cities that use them: Open: It's between you and any hauler who offers service in your area. (Woodbury, St. Paul) Organized: Haulers bid for all trash. Elected officials pick winner. (Blaine, Hastings) Zoned /hybrids: Haulers split up turf and scheduling with various levels of regulation. (Little Canada, Brooklyn Park) Municipal: City workers in city trucks. (Minneapolis) Source: Pioneer Press research Close Window I Send To Printer http:// www. twincities .com /portiet/article/htmi /fragments /print_ article.j sp ?articleld= 7056668 &siteld =569 10/2/2007