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Home | Opinion Exchange | Editorials

Editorial: Time to talk trash collection is now

Managed systems are cheaper, better for environment.

Last update: October 9, 2009 - 9:40 AM

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"We get lots of complaints about trash in St. Paul. So we spend lots of staff time and money, going through the process to assess people, sending out crews and billing for clean up. With an organized system we could handle that more efficiently -- and still include many current private haulers."

Lee Helgen,

St. Paul City Council member

•••

"We custom tailor our services. And a customer who isn't happy can talk directly to me -- or can quit and go to someone else.''

Mark Stoltman, of independent hauler Randy's Sanitation

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It's a funny thing about garbage: We need to get rid of it, but we're often possessive and parochial about who takes it away.

The majority (77 of 108) of Twin Cities communities have open rubbish collection systems. That means property owners select and pay for their own trash collection, rather than having a city or county handle it through property taxes. Some residents say they prefer having choices because they can have a direct relationship with a company instead of a city bureaucracy. But the most popular reason for using a private hauler is cost; many consumers believe independent trash collectors are cheaper.

However, a new Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) study says otherwise. The MPCA report showed that the average cost of trash removal in open systems is about 50 percent higher than rates in city-controlled systems. The average monthly rate for a 60-gallon container in an open system is $25.46. In municipal systems, the average price drops to $16.98.

The 275-page report details previous studies, describes systems in numerous communities and carefully outlines the pros and cons of both systems. Though the agency stops short of recommending either method, the facts speak for themselves. Organized waste management makes the most sense.

Organized collection systems cost less for individual consumers through lower rates, and for haulers who can use less gas and reduce wear and tear on trucks. A managed system eliminates the need for trucks from various companies to serve the same areas, placing additional stress on roads and alleys. One garbage truck has the same impact on streets as 1,279 cars. Fewer trucks mean fewer street repairs, longer lasting roads and less noise.

When done properly, organized trash collection is more efficient and environmentally friendly. Such systems give communities more direct control over waste management decisions -- including reducing the amount of garbage overall and deciding where waste should go. Having one entity in charge also encourages better coordination of trash and recycling pick-ups.

Though the evidence favors municipal or regional systems, whenever cities talk about change they run into an angry buzz saw of citizens and well-organized independent trash haulers.

Some residents argue that they want more choices, and some mistrust government systems. Some haulers argue that they give better, more personalized service and that a managed system could put them out of business. Because of that opposition, not a single metro area has switched to city collection in nearly 20 years, according to the MPCA.

That should change. Minneapolis, which has a competitive bidding process for some of its trash haulers, has demonstrated that an organized system works well. And there are a variety of ways to set up a zoned, city-managed system that preserves competition among haulers.

St. Paul, which has one of the state's largest open trash-hauling systems with 17 operators, is wisely reconsidering the arrangement. Several council members have asked staff to study the impact of changing to a city-run system, and results are expected in the next few weeks. That should encourage other municipalities to have similar discussions.

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