Revise of Trash Pickup Agreement Delayed

Confusion over how the city would change pickup of trash and recyclables has stalled a renewed agreement with the city’s main garbage hauler.

The city has been studying how to revise its contract with Briggeman Disposal Co. to add recycling services in Old Town and raise trash collection fees by 50 cents a household, beginning in April.

Because Briggeman’s contract is open for revision, Councilwoman Patty Campbell had also requested that recycling pickup in College Park East be increased to every week from every other week.

To seek more public comment on those issues and to give the city staff time to study the situation further, the City Council voted this week to delay action until March 10. Meanwhile, trash pickup will go unchanged.

Garbage collection fees have not been raised in 10 years. An increase to have taken effect seven years ago wasn’t implemented because of administrative miscommunication, City Manager Keith Till said.

The city is proposing to charge $12.75 a month to each single-family household, up from $12.25, and $12.25 for apartment units, up from $11.75. Some people 65 and older would be eligible for a 15% discount. City and school facilities would get free service.

The first bill at the new rate would be in the mail in June. The fee increase would go toward city street maintenance, Till said.

The contract is being revised in part to comply with state recycling standards. The city must recycle 50% of its refuse by 2000 to avoid hefty fines. It now recycles only 25%.