Agenda Packets - 2023/03/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Small haulers will face no additional competitive challenges beyond what they face now within the industry. Potential Disadvantages of Open Collection Although choice is available, "inertia may be a compelling force "for a resident to stay with the hauler he/she has citing the GBB report.16 Residents must take the time and trouble to shop around for a better rate — which can be temporary and come with strings, long term contracts, and cancellation penalties — or just give in and go along with higher prices or unsatisfactory service. Under an open system, costs must be spread over smaller and more uncertain customer base, so fees must be sufficiently high to cover fixed costs. In other words, we pay more. Operational cost savings of adding to the customer base are more likely to go to higher profits than to lowered prices for customers. It is impossible to determine whether Falcon Heights is in compliance with the Waste Management Act, which requires all residents in communities over S, 000 people to use solid waste collection services. Individual residents and the community as a whole will have no leverage to support local businesses and keep them viable as the industry consolidates. MSW trucks are heavy and have a demonstrated impact on street longevity. City streets and alleys will continue to be subject to the impact of additional truck traffic. • Another consequence of overlapping routes and more trucks is more air pollution and more noise. Residents do not have a choice about where their refuse goes. If they choose a hauler on the basis of where the hauler says the trash goes, there is no assurance that (a) the information is correct and (b) the hauler will not change practices in the future. Major decisions that affect quality of life in Falcon Heights and the future of our environment will be driven by corporate priorities, not local interests. 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. 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. 16 "Comparative Economic Analysis of MSW and Recycling Collection in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area." Sept. 1994. GBB Solid Waste Mgmnt. Consultants. Falls Church, VA. 20 •Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC R - Analysis of Waste Collection Service Arrangements.doc June 2009