Effective in January with Council approval the solid waste fee goes up $7 a month to $32.10 for twice a week back door pick-up. The City would also take over re-cycling and according to Dockery pick-up could cost more per month if city garbage customers don't do more recycling. The garbage limit is 96 gallons per pick-up. Dockery said it would be easier to stay at that limit by putting recycled materials in a separate container provided by the city.
"If they expect to throw away that much material they will have to pay at a minimum an additional $25 a month," Dockery said.
Dockery introduced Hall County Schools and County Recycling Coordinator Brandie Kochan, who he proposed could also become the city's recycling coordinator to educate and encourage citizens to do more recycling. Kochan said recycling to stay within the 96 gallon limit is a 'no brainer', since 60 percent of the 4.6 pounds of trash generated per person can be recycled.
"If you put it in the recycling bin you're going to pay less for trash because you won't have to pay that additional fee," Kochan said.
Dockery proposed that Kochan would go to work for the city under an intergovernmental agreement with the county and the city would pay half her salary beginning next year. Mayor Ruth Bruner said City Council agreed to the proposed ordinance changes, which would get a first reading vote at next Tuesday's regular meeting.
"The consensus was that we were in favor of the ordinance and it will be discussed and voted on at the next council meeting," the Mayor said.
Under the proposal garbage has to be securely tied, in plastic bags and contained in cans with a fitted lid that can be handled by the city's pick-up people. The cans must be placed in an area where employees can easily access and empty the can without entering structures or enclosures including fences and garages.
Refuse collection, limited to one cubic yard, and recycling collection would curbside and once a week and the city would charge a special fee for pick-up of appliances, furniture, or excessive yard waste, with no items over 50 pounds or five feet long without a special fee advanced scheduling.
Dockery said the proposed ordinance change would accomplish the city's goal of making solid waste revenue self-sustaining, pointing out that 71 percent of the residents who appeared at two public hearings on solid waste this summer were in favor of keeping twice a week back door garbage pick-up and would be willing to pay extra for it.
According to Dockery pick-up could cost more per month if city garbage customers don
Kochan said recycling to stay within the 96 gallon limit is a
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/9/231957