How did this come about? Information about the Residential Trash & Recycling Public Process
In the fall of 2017, the Town Board of Trustees identified three main objectives that they hoped to achieve by making changes to the way municipal solid waste was handled in Carbondale. The three objectives are:
• Regulations protecting bears and other wildlife
• Waste diversion and managing our waste stream
• Addressing the number of trucks on the road
Following the development of the three main objectives, to help guide future discussions and provide needed waste hauling industry information, the Town enlisted the help of a consultant with expertise in waste hauling and waste diversion. The consultant was able to provide valuable data related to trash composition, recycling, best practices, volumetric pricing and other industry-specific data which was used throughout the public process.
Since the fall of 2017, this topic has been discussed at 15 different Town Board meetings. During this process public input was solicited at a number of events around town including the Farmer’s Market, First Friday, and an open-house meeting at Town Hall. Various forms of media were also used to inform the public and solicit their input including: Facebook, newspaper ads and articles, radio interviews and information on the Town’s website. In addition, the website also included an on-line survey that was taken by over 100 people. Several written surveys were submitted as well.
Based on the discussions at the Board meetings, public input and input from the waste haulers who serve Carbondale, the Board decided to move toward a system where residential waste hauling services are provided through a town-administered contract. The first step in that process was to solicit requests for proposals (RFP) for this service. On January 4, 2019 the Town released the RFP, and two companies, Mountain Waste & Recycling and Waste Management provided proposals for the work before the February 22, 2019, deadline.
Staff reviewed the two proposals and both proposals were determined to meet the requirements of the RFP. After considerable review, staff recommended that the Board award the contract for residential trash and recycling to Mountain Waste & Recycling. This item was placed on the agenda for the meeting on March 19, 2019, and the Board did award the contract to Mountain Waste & Recycling.
Over the next several months, staff will be working with Mountain Waste & Recycling to implement the new contract. This will involve producing informational materials that will be distributed to customers explaining the available service levels so that they can choose the appropriate service during the service selection period between June 1 and June 30, 2019. During this time, staff will also be working to develop on-line forms that can be used during the service selection process.
Who does the new residential trash and recycling contract affect?
This contract covers all single-family and multi-family less than eight (8) units within the Town limits.
When does the new residential trash and recycling service start?
The first trash and recycling pickup will start the week of September 30, 2019.
How will the billing work for the new residential trash and recycling service?
Billing for trash and recycling will be included on your monthly Town water & waste water utility bill.
Trash collection in my neighborhood is taken care of by my home owners association (HOA). Will that end the week of September 30, 2019?
HOAs who have a contract for trash collection will be allowed to finish out their existing contracts, but the contracts cannot be extended past their current expiration date. Once the contract has ended, everyone in the HOA will be moved to the Town contract. The Town is aware of the following HOAs that have contracts: River Valley Ranch, Hendrick Ranch, Keator Grove and Crystal Valley Mobile Home Park. If you are a member of another HOA that has a contract for trash collection, please call 510-1217 and let us know so we can track those existing contracts as well.
Under the new residential trash and recycling contract, will I have options on the size of my trash and recycling containers?
The contract has four (4) trash container options: Super Saver, Small, Medium and Large. You will also be able to choose between Medium and Large recycling containers. You can also choose a wildlife resistant container if you want one. For more information on container sizes and pricing, see the FAQ at the bottom of this webpage entitled, "Residential Trash and Recycling Service Levels and PRICING."
How do I sign up? How do I let the Town know what service I want?
The service level selection period will be from June 1 to June 30, 2019. Customers who do not contact the Town during this time to select a service level will default to the Medium Trash with Medium Recycling option. More details on the service level selection process will be shared as they become available.
The Town is developing an on-line form that can be filled out and submitted electronically. In addition, there will be a kiosk set up at Town Hall for those who would like to come in and use it to submit the form electronically. Residents can also sign up at First Friday's, Farmers Market's, and other locations around Town in person. Paper forms will be mailed with June utility bills for those who prefer to sign up via paper. During this process, the Town will be switching on-line bill pay vendors. ALL utility customers wishing to use or continue to use on-line bill pay will be required to sign-up with the new vendor during the month of June.
Can I "opt-out" of the new residential trash and recycling service?
You have the option to choose a different hauler, but you will still have a charge on your utility bill for the Town’s residential trash and recycling service.
Is recycling included in the cost, or will that be an additional charge?
Recycling is included in the cost of all service levels. There will not be an additional charge for recycling, but it will also not reduce your bill if you choose not to use it.
What will be happening between now and the week of September 30, 2019?
Below is a list of dates showing the major steps between now and September 30th:
Now through May 1st - Identify all HOAs and determine contract end dates.
Now through May 15, 2019 - Prepare informational material related to service options for distribution prior to service selection period.
June 1 through June 30, 2019 - Service selection period
Week of September 30, 2019 - Service start-up
What if I have additional questions?
The Town is currently working with Mountain Waste & Recycling to develop an implementation plan and additional information related to the new residential trash and recycling service, so there may be some questions that we are not able to answer at this time.
Beginning on May 20, 2019, customers can call (970) 510-1202 for dedicated staff that can answer questions and provide more detailed information on the implementation plan and service level selection process.
Residential Trash and Recycling Service Levels and PRICING
Residential Trash and Recycling Service Levels and Pricing
All service levels include recycling. The customer can choose between Medium and Large recycling levels.
Trash Service Levels
Super Saver: The Super Saver is equivalent to half of the Small service level. It would accommodate approximately two (2) tall kitchen garbage bags every two weeks. The customer has the option of providing their own 30 to 39-gallon container and having it collected every other week, or having the contractor provide a 64-gallon cart that would be collected once per month. If the customer provides the container, it can hold no more than 39-gallons.
Small: The Small service level would be able to accommodate approximately two (2) tall kitchen garbage bags every week. As with the Super Saver, the customer has the option to provide their own 30-39-gallon container that would be picked up every week or the contractor will provide a 64-gallon container that would be picked up every-other week.
Medium: The Medium service level would be able to accommodate approximately five (5) tall kitchen garbage bags every week. The contractor will provide a 64-gallon container that will be picked up every week.
Large: The Large service level would be able to accommodate approximately seven (7) tall kitchen garbage bags every week. The contractor will provide a 96-gallon container that will be picked up every week.
Recycling Service Levels
Medium: The Medium recycling service level is a 64-gallon recycling container or up to four (4) 18-gallon totes collected every-other week.
Large: The Large recycling service level is a 96-gallon container or up to six (6) 18-gallon totes collected every-other week.
Wildlife Resistant Containers
Wildlife resistant containers will be available for all service levels. Since wildlife resistant containers are only available in 64 and 96-gallon sizes, wildlife resistant Super Saver service level will be a 64-gallon container collected once per month and the wildlife resistant Small service level will be a 64-gallon container collected every-other week.
Extra Trash and Recycling Containers
Additional medium and large trash and recycling containers are available, but to get an additional container, the customer must first be at the Large service level for the type of extra container they want (i.e. extra trash only available to customers with Large trash service, extra recycling only available to customers with Large recycling service)
Pricing
The chart below shows pricing for the different trash, recycling and wildlife resistant service levels. The chart also shows pricing for additional trash and recycling containers as well as dumpsters for multi-family units.
Service Level- Single Family
|
Monthly Cost
|
Super Saver Trash with Medium Recycling
|
$ 13.84
|
Super Saver Trash with Large Recycling
|
$ 15.93
|
Small Trash with Medium Recycling
|
$ 16.92
|
Small Trash with Large Recycling
|
$ 19.74
|
Medium Trash with Medium Recycling (Default Service Level)
|
$ 30.46
|
Medium Trash with Large Recycling
|
$ 35.53
|
Large Trash with Medium Recycling
|
$ 45.24
|
Large Trash with Large Recycling
|
$ 51.52
|
Wildlife Super Saver Trash with Medium Recycling
|
$ 23.84
|
Wildlife Super Saver Trash with Large Recycling
|
$ 25.93
|
Wildlife Small Trash with Medium Recycling
|
$ 28.67
|
Wildlife Small Trash with Large Recycling
|
$ 31.49
|
Wildlife Medium Trash with Medium Recycling
|
$ 42.21
|
Wildlife Medium Trash with Large Recycling
|
$ 47.28
|
Wildlife Large Trash with Medium Recycling
|
$ 56.99
|
Wildlife Large Trash with Large Recycling
|
$ 63.27
|
Additional Medium Trash or Additional Medium Recycling
|
$ 14.10
|
Additional Large Trash or Additional Large Recycling
|
$ 17.63
|
Service Level-Multi Family
|
|
2-Yard Trash Dumpster collected once per week
|
$ 82.25
|
2-Yard Trash Dumpster collected twice per week
|
$152.75
|
3-Yard Trash Dumpster collected once per week
|
$ 99.88
|
3-Yard Trash Dumpster collected twice per week
|
$176.25
|
96-Gallon Recycle Container collected once per week
|
$ 47.00
|
96-Gallon Recycle Container collected twice per week
|
$ 76.38
|
2-Yard Recycle Dumpster collected once per week
|
$ 82.25
|
2-Yard Recycle Dumpster collected twice per week
|
$135.12
|
Please choose the container size appropriate to your location and needs.
If the lid on either the trash or recycling container is not closed all the way on your collection day, a $25.00 fee per incident may be assessed to your monthly billing.