Questions remain about county trash program
It has come to our subdivision’s attention two more concerns regarding the mandataed County trash collection program. As a result, we request comments from your readers and views on these problems. 1. Has the County Council discussed the annual replacement costs of trash bins now being distributed to residents in unincorporated areas?
We are of the understanding that St. Louis County has no provisions for replacing, repairing, maintaining or providing additional carts once the initial deliveries are done. Waste haulers won’t do it. They don’t own then. Why should they?
County management believes these carts will last forever, and never need replacing. Regardless of people moving, getting stolen, breaking down, or whatever. This past year the city of Houston, TX experienced a 10% turnover in carts being stolen. So if there is a loss rate of 10% per year, all carts will be gone (turned over) in less than 10 years - or useless unless replaced. Based at a loss of 10,000 carts per year at $40 each is an ANNUAL EXPENSE of $400,000.
2. Has the selection of non-union trash haulers serving union employee residents of St. Louis County been discussed by the County Council?
Many resident of St. Louis County are union employees . . . and union employees prefer to do business with suppliers that are also union. I understand some trash haulers in the county are non-union and will not be acceptable to many residents.
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I am aware of one county subdivision who has opted-out of the program and has selected three trash haulers to serve their residents. I understand this option is permissable under the regulations stated by County officials. The bottom line is this results in absolutely no change than in the past other than higher costs for their subdivision residents.
Are county residents aware of this situation and is it the Council’s intent to allow residents to select any trash hauler they choose? (Hey, that’s great. We’re not complaining)
Bill Rogers
St. Louis County
The County’s Trash program, while good in its intentions to increase recycling, fails in the fact that citizens will have no say in their trash hauler and subsequently, no say when prices go up in the future.
Forget about customer service. At least now, I can call my trash company and threaten to leave them if I am dissatisfied. According to the county’s new COMMUNISTIC trash program, complaints will go to the county who will then supposedly talk to the respected trash company. We are really backtracking in customer service here. That “county customer care center” is going to cost money too. We can expect the county to be efficient, right?
A better solution, one that does not costs near as much as the current plan, is to put recycling containers somewhere in south county and and north county (like the ones at Carondelet Park). Oh, I guess the problem with that is that then the small trash companies will stay in business, and the big companies will not have guaranteed customers for years. That would keep the government smaller too. We want socialism-freedom is a foolish idea. (that was sarcasm)
After attending several county meetings on the matter and seeing the county fumble around with the vagueness of their “great” plan, and witnessing the stiff resistance of a LARGE MAJORITY of South County residents, I really wonder why this trash plan is being pushed so much.
Something much bigger than recycling is at stake. Something like MONEY.
STOP the County’s trash plan. Not only does it STINK——————it SMELLS too.