Cutting the Cost of Garbage Collection

Cutting the cost of government services is the order of the day at the Levy County court house. It should also be on the agenda for the Cedar Key Commission. Garbage collection fees for residences have gone up from $15 to $18.50 per month in the past two years. That is an increase of 23 percent, not to mention that the for-profit contractor is asking for another increase. The cost of garbage collection can be reduced by simply going to once-a-week collection rather than the current twice-a-week schedule.

Our City Commission deals with many needs. Police and fire protection are foremost. Marina and park operations are also important services. Garbage collection is the most mundane of services, but also an expensive one.

When the next contract negotiations with the outside for-profit garbage collection firm comes due, reduction to once-a-week collection should be considered. Twice-a-week collection is wasteful in three ways. First, it discourages recycling. Second, it wastes taxpayers` money. Third, it adds a round trip of a fuel-hungry pavement eating garbage truck. Once-a-week collection works just fine in most communities.

Many communities that have once-a-week collection reduce the garbage load by having curbside recycling pick-up. With Cedar Key`s emphasis on recycling, curbside pickup can be one step away.

We recommend that homeowners speak to their Commissioners about changing to once-a-week collection at the earliest opportunity. Certainly this issue should be addressed before the budget hearings begin and before entering into a contract with any collection company.