VARIABLE RATE BASED SYSTEMS IN GEORGIA
Revised March
1999
CITIES
Athens-Clarke
County
Population:
45,000
Contact: Sharyn Dickerson,
Assistant Solid Waste Director
Households: 9,000
Melissa Tweedell, Program Education
Specialist
(single
family)
1005 College Avenue
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 613-3503
FAX: (706) 613-3513
Email: recycle@acc-recycle.org
Athens-Clarke County began a
volume-based program on September 11, 1995 for residents in single family homes
and commercial businesses (large and small) in the Urban Service District
(former Athens city limits).
·
Residents must provide their own
garbage cans (up to 32 gallons) with tight fitting lids. Residents choose their
level of service and are charged the associated fee on their water bill as
follows: one 20 gallon can ($12.00/month), one 32 gallon can ($13.00/month), two
32 gallon cans ($16.00/month), three 32 gallon cans ($22.00/month), four 32
gallon cans ($30.00), or five 32 gallon cans ($42.00/month). Residents are
allowed one opportunity each year to change their service for free; after that,
it will cost $10 for every
change. Residents can put
additional garbage in trash bags with a special sticker that can be purchased
for $2 each. Large items that need
to be disposed can be picked up on a cost of service basis. Residents outside of
the Urban Service District can contract with a franchised private hauler for
garbage
collection. All franchised haulers
are required to offer some type of volume-based program to their clients.
·
Large
businesses using traditional dumpsters
for garbage collection are charged a monthly fee based on volume, just like the
residents. The fee is based on the
number of times per week or number of times per day garbage is collected, as
well as the size of the dumpster.
·
Smaller
businesses are charged a flat monthly
fee based on the number of times per week or per day they have garbage
collected. In addition, they are
required to use special 38 gallon Athens-Clarke County bags at a cost of $1 per
bag for their garbage. The bag can
hold approximately 40 pounds of garbage.
Businesses are limited to a maximum of ten bags per pickup.
Recycling for all three
programs is free. For small
businesses recyclables can be placed in clear bags and placed alongside
Athens-Clarke County bags for pickup.
All recovered materials go to the Athens-Clarke County Materials
Recycling Facility for sorting, processing and marketing. The overall program is set up as an
enterprise fund so the cost of collection, disposal and recycling are covered by
the fees charged to the customers.
Education is key to the success of this program. Athens-Clarke County began public
education efforts one year prior to implementing the program. They spent approximately $129,000 (about
6% of their total solid waste budget) on education programs related to the new
volume-based program for fiscal year 1994.
The education budget remained the same in fiscal year 1995, the year the
program was executed. Currently,
for fiscal year 1999, Athens-Clarke County has an education budget of $175,000
(about 7% of their total solid waste budget). The education budget figures do not
include any education grants the county has been awarded. To date, the government, residents and
businesses are all pleased with the program.
Austell
(Cobb County)
Population: 5,000
Contact: Randy Bowens
Households: 1,500
2716 Broad
Street
Austell, GA 30106
(770)
944-4325
FAX: (770) 944-4335
The city of Austell
implemented a volume-based program in October 1993, using Tifton/Tift County’s
program as their model. They
decided to go with the bag system, whereby only garbage placed in the special
Austell bags would be collected for disposal. 20 gallon bags cost $1.50 each and 32
gallon bags cost $2.75 each.
Previously, garbage collection cost $13/month. The bags can be purchased at the police
station, city hall, and the fire station, or the communication office, which is
open 24 hours a day. Garbage is collected once a week curbside. Recycling was contracted out to BFI
. Residents are billed $1.60 on
their monthly water bill for this service.
The overall program is set up as an enterprise fund so the cost for
garbage collection and disposal is covered by the revenue generated by the sale
of the bags. There was some
resistance to the program at first but now people are happy with the program,
especially the elderly who are saving money over the previous system.
Decatur
(DeKalb County)
Population: 18,000
Contact: Charles Hammonds,
Sanitation Department
Households: 5,870
2635 Talley
Street
PO
Box 220
Decatur, GA 30031-0220
(404)
377-5571
FAX: (404) 378-4153
Email: cah4505@aol.com
·
Residents: Currently, the City of Decatur's PAYT
program is primarily a volume-based system. Single family residences are charged
$150.00 per year for once per week garbage service with a back door
collection. Garbage and loose trash
must be in a City approved 33 gallon blue bag, 15 gallon yellow bag, or eight
gallon green bag imprinted with the City of Decatur logo. Bags cost residents $1.00, $0.50 and
$0.30 respectively, in addition to the yearly service charge.
·
Small
Businesses: About 100 small downtown
businesses that do not have space for a regular commercial refuse container are
provided 95 gallon carts. This
service costs $460 per year for one 95 gallon cart emptied once per week. Each extra cart or pickup costs an
additional $460 per year.
·
Large
Businesses: Regular commercial service
for 230 larger sized businesses, institutions and multi-family dwelling units
costs $3.00 per cubic yard.
In August 1997, the City of
Decatur contracted with a private hauler, Dreamsan, Inc., for residential
curbside collection of a large variety of recyclables, including newspaper,
cans, glass bottles, junk mail, magazines, telephone books, PET and white milk
jugs, and corrugated cardboard. As
a result, the city collected 150 tons of recyclables in December 1997. Prior to this, they were collecting an
average of 80 tons per month.
Extensive public
outreach and education programs began 12 months in advance of the PAYT program
implementation. Less than 25
residents voiced opposition to the program. The Waste Management Advisory Board led
the outreach efforts by holding public hearings and neighborhood meetings. Residents and sanitation workers
assisted in designing the type of unit pricing program that would best service
their needs. The Waste Management
Advisory Board referred to publications, such as the EPA workbook, for guidance
and the program was largely fashioned from citizen input.
Decatur
(DeKalb County) Continued
The people indicated a
strong preference for a bag system rather than a subscription can or tag
system. The residents recommended
the bag sizes and colors.
Throughout the public information and education phase, door hangers were
distributed to every single-family residence, and articles were published in the
City's newsletter and local newspaper.
The City spent about $12,00 in unbudgeted funds on public education and
information.
Douglasville
(Douglas County)
Population: 15,000
Contact: Keith L. Williams,
Public Services Director
Households: 4,200
or
Buddy Allison, Street and Sanitation Supt.
PO
Box 219
6695 Church
Street
Douglasville, GA 30133
(770)
920-3000
FAX: (770) 920-0499
The city of Douglasville
began a recycling program with a pilot program in the two largest neighborhoods
in the city. Initially, there was a
20% reduction in solid waste. However, over time, participation in recycling
declined and the volume of solid waste returned to the level it had been prior
to the implementation of the recycling program. As a result, the city realized it had to
look at other options. Using the
city of Marietta as their model, they implemented the Variable Rate Program in
June 1995, choosing the bag system, for the 4,200 households in the city. Residents are required to purchase
special imprinted county bags at grocery stores for their garbage: 40 gallon
bags sold for $1.20 each and 20 gallon bags sold for $.70 each. Residents are asked to put their bags in
the 90 gallon garbage container/cart that had been provided by the city. The
senior citizens in the city love the program. Residents are charged a base fee
of $8 per month on their water bill, which covers approximately 60% of the
collection and disposal costs for solid waste as well as the recycling program
(the recycling program was contracted out to BFI) . The additional cost is covered by the
revenue from the sale of the bags.
As such, all collection, disposal, and recycling costs are covered. In addition, the city purchased a
grinder for yard trimmings, which are mulched and available free to the
public. Since they implemented the
Variable Rate Program, recycling,
and mulching program, the city has reduced the amount of solid waste going to
the landfill by 38.85% per household. One piece of advice from the city for any
community interested in implementing their own program is that public
education is essential for the program to be successful.
Duluth
(Gwinnett County)
Population: 16,000
Contact: Larry Rubenstein,
City Manager
Households: 4,300
3578 W. Lawrenceville
Street
Duluth, GA 30136
(770)
476-3434
FAX: (770) 623-2780
The city of Duluth began a
modified form of volume-based programs in 1979 when residents were required to
purchase specially marked “City of Duluth” bags for their garbage. Residents purchase boxes of twenty 32
gallon bags at city hall and some grocery stores for $20. Senior citizens (65 years or older with
household income of less than $25,000/year), handicapped and disabled residents
with documentation proving their status can purchase a box of bags for $10; they
are limited to six boxes per year.
The city contracts with United Waste to handle residential and commercial
garbage pickup. The hauler will
only collect specially marked "City of Duluth" bags of residential garbage and
residential recycling. Recycling is
provided to residents at no extra charge since the city picks up the cost of the
program. The program is not set up
as an enterprise fund. Compost bins are also provided at no cost to residents to
encourage backyard composting.
Recycling is voluntary with the businesses. With recycling and the bag program, the
city has seen a significant decrease in the volume of solid waste being
landfilled. The only complaints the
city gets are from large families; the smaller families love it. Overall, the city is very pleased with
the success of their program.
Marietta
(Cobb County)
Population: 50,000
Contact: Joann Ellers,
Marietta Clean City Commission
Households:11,000
PO
Box 609
Marietta, GA 30061
(770)
794-5606
FAX: (770) 794-5505
Email: jellars@city.marietta.ga.us
In January 1994, Marietta
implemented a pilot variable rate pricing program for residential solid waste
collection with assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Region IV. The pilot program ran
for one year and during that time, they tested two variable rate methods: bag versus can program. In the end, the city chose the can method and implemented a
full-fledged volume-based program in March of 1995 for the 10,500 households in
the city. Residents in the city of
Marietta are given a 2”x6” orange sticker to place on an existing garbage
container, not larger than 32 gallons (60 pound limit). They are charged on a monthly basis
depending on the number of cans they have.
One can costs $12 per month, two cans cost $16, three cans cost $21, and
additional cans are an additional $5 each.
Most residents have on average two cans, but more and more are choosing
one can. Occasional additional
garbage can be placed in special bags for a fee: $5 for every three bags of
garbage.
Special miscellaneous items
are picked up for a fee of $5 to $30, depending on the item. The city also offers a discount to
senior citizens who tend to generate less solid waste. Seniors are charged $10 a month for one
"mini-can" (a 25 gallon garbage container). Garbage pickup is twice a week. Yard trimmings pickup is once a
week. All residents are provided
curbside recycling at no extra charge. Recycling has been contracted out to BFI
which picks up once a week. BFI
reports that they are collecting on average 72 tons of container recyclables
(i.e. plastic bottles, aluminum cans, steel and tin cans), 67 tons of paper
recyclables, and 212 tons of yard trimmings each month. Currently, the city has reduced the
volume of solid waste to the landfill by 30% and has not seen an
appreciable increase in illegal dumping.
The collection, disposal and recycling costs for this program are not
fully covered by the revenue generated.
The difference is made up through city property taxes. The city says that public education is
key to the success of the program.
Sugar
Hill (Gwinnett County)
Population: 4,557
Contact: Warren Nevad, City
Manager
Households: N/A
Steven Bailey, City
Councilman
4988 West Broad
Street
Sugar Hill, GA
30518
(770)
945-6716
FAX: (770) 945-0281
The City of Sugar
Hill PAYT program began July 1997 and is similar to the city of Duluth.
Residents are required to buy garbage bags with a special Sugar Hill logo at the
grocery store. United Waste, the
contract hauler, will only pick up garbage in these special bags. The bags are sold for $1.13 each. Starting in January 1999, the price of
the bag will increase according to the Consumer Price Index. United Waste provided recycling bins at
no cost to residents. Recyclables
are donated to the Recycling Bank of Gwinnett, which is operated by Gwinnett
Clean & Beautiful. Prior to implementing the pay-as-you-throw program,
residents were billed a flat $8 per month fee for garbage
pickup.
Snellville
(Gwinnett County)
Population: 14,500
Contact: Gaye Johnson
Households: 5,000
100
E. Park Drive
Snellville, GA 30278
(770)
985-3526
FAX: (770) 985-3542
The city began a
volume-based program in 1993 when they contracted with a private hauler,
Mid-American, to handle their residential curbside garbage and recycling. Residents are provided a 65 gallon
garbage container and an 18 gallon recycling bin. They are charged
$34.50/quarter for once a week pickup.
If an additional garbage container is required, an additional $16.50 per
quarter is charged to the resident.
If a resident has just a few extra bags of garbage, they are asked to
notify the city ahead of time and in turn, they city notifies the sanitation
department. Otherwise, the
sanitation department will only pick up the garbage container. The resident would then be charged an
additional $2.50 per four bags of garbage.
On Wednesdays, residents can have yard trimmings collected curbside at a
charge of $2.75 (up to five bags), $5.50 (up to ten bags), $1.00/bag (over ten
bags); otherwise, they can take the yard trimmings themselves to the city
recycling center at no extra charge.
At this point, most of the citizens are used to the program and
complaints are at a minimum. The
city is extremely happy with the program.
Thomasville
(Thomas County)
Population:18,500
Thomasville/Thomas County
Clean & Beautiful
Households: 6,100
Contact: Veon
Williams
PO
Box 1540
Thomasville, GA 31799
(912)
225-4300
FAX: (912) 227-7000
The city of Thomasville
implemented their volume-based program in the beginning of 1992. They chose the can program. Residents are given a special sticker
for one 32 gallon or less garbage can and are charged $8 per month for curbside
garbage collection. Additional cans
may be used with the acquisition of additional stickers for $5 per month. Yard trimmings can be picked up
separately for a cost of $8 per month if requested. Recycling is available at three
unstaffed drop-off sites throughout the city. Capital Recycling, out of Tallahassee,
Florida, handles the recycling program. The overall solid waste/recycling
program is set up like an enterprise fund, so all collection, disposal and
recycling costs are covered by the revenue from the
program.
Tifton:
(Tift County)
Population: 14,215
Tifton/Tift Clean Community
Commission
Households: 4,000
Contact: Sherrie Sumner
The
Myron Complex
P.O. Box
229
Tifton, GA 31793
(912)
382-6231
FAX: (912) 386-9694
In January of 1992, the city
of Tifton implemented a volume-based garbage fee structure for the community's
4,000 households. City personnel
affixed one identification tag (3’ x 3’ decal) to each resident’s existing 32
gallon garbage can (one can per household). Since the program's inception, the
sanitation department services only cans with this tag. Each resident is charged $9 per month
for garbage collection. If
additional cans are needed, the resident is charged $15.00/month for two 32
gallon containers or $21/month for three 32 gallon containers. Additional bags
of garbage are collected if they are one of the special garbage bags used in the
county program (see Tift County). All households are provided with an 18 gallon
recycling bin. Additional recycling
bins can be acquired for a one-time cost of $5. Recyclables are collected commingled.
Tifton:
(Tift County) Continued
Items residents can recycle
include aluminum and all other metal cans, glass, PET (#1, soda bottles) and
HDPE (#2, milk jugs) plastic, cardboard boxes and newspaper. Garbage and recyclables are collected
once a week using two separate vehicles. The collection, disposal and recycling
costs for this program are not fully covered by the revenue generated. The difference is made up by the general
fund.
West
Point (Troup County)
Population: 4,249
Contact: Joel Wood, City
Manager
Households: 1,200
PO
Box 487
West Point, GA 31833
(706)
645-3522
FAX: (706) 643-8150
The city implemented a
volume-based program August 1, 1994, after a one-year publicity/education
campaign for the residents.
Residents were given a tag with a number on it for one garbage container
(45 gallons), which they provide themselves, and are charged $8 per month on
their utility bill. (This tag number is recorded in city hall in case a can is
stolen). Residents can get
additional tags for additional 20 to 40 gallon cans for an additional $4 per
month per can. Residents are
allowed up to three cans. The city
will only pick up garbage that is inside the can with the lid firmly on. For additional bags of garbage, stickers
may be acquired from city hall for $2.00 (any size bag). Yard trimmings (up to five cubic yards)
are picked up weekly for no charge.
There is no curbside recycling pickup. Instead, they have constructed a
centralized, fenced in ”recycling park” with IGGYs to collect recyclables. A home composting demonstration site is
also at the park. The city
contracted with All American Recycling to handle the recyclables. All American maintains the park, keeps
it clean, markets the recyclables and keeps the revenue as compensation. The cost charged to the residents does
not cover the collection/disposal costs that the city is charged; the general
fund is used to cover this difference.
There have been very few complaints from the residents about the
program. The next thing the city is
looking into is commercial garbage collection, which today they are doing for
$10/month, with daily pickups.
Coweta
Population: 67,799
Contact: Eva Wagner
Households:21,679
22
East Broad Street
Newnan, GA 30263
(770)
254-3785
FAX: (770) 254-2606
Coweta County implemented
its volume-based program in October of 1993. Residents in the county have the option
of either curbside garbage collection through franchised private haulers or to
take their garbage to one of the 16 convenience centers in the county. If they choose the latter, they must
bring their garbage in a special “Coweta County” garbage bag which can be
purchased at local Fire Departments, the Solid Waste Department and many
groceries. Residents can purchase
an eight gallon bag for $.40, a 16 gallon bag for $.75, or a 32 gallon bag for
$1.50. The county also offers
exemptions for low income or senior residents with proof of their status,
thereby allowing them to purchase 16 gallon bags for $.10 each. Recycling is free to all county
residents who bring their items to 12 of the 16 convenience centers (four
convenience centers are exclusively compactor sites and staffed by community
service workers who do not handle separation of recyclables). At each convenience center is a roll-off
container to hold all the recyclables, which when full, is taken directly to
their recycler, Newnan Salvage. The operation and maintenance of the 12
convenience centers has been contracted out to a private company. The cost to staff these sites is
approximately $300,000 per year (two sites are open 60 hours per week and the
others are open 80 hours per week,
365 days a year). At this
point, the county is almost breaking even on their costs; the difference is made
up with appropriations from the general fund. The ultimate goal for the county with
this program is for it to become an enterprise fund. The county as a whole is very pleased
with the
program.
Gordon
Population: 38,000
Contact: Natalie Bearden
Gable
Households: N/A P.O. Box 580
Calhoun, GA 30703
(706)
629-5633
FAX: (706) 629-1966
The county began their
volume-based program on January 1, 1997. They have six staffed convenience
centers for residential garbage and recyclables and collect the following for
recycling: aluminum and tin cans, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, glass, and
plastic #1-7. All recovered items
must be separated at the drop-off center. Prior to implementing their PAYT
program, residents took their garbage to the convenience centers free of charge.
Now, residents must pay for their garbage disposal. They have three options. They can
either:
a)
take their garbage to a
convenience center where they pay by the pound at $.05 per pound. All garbage must be in bags with no
limit to the number of bags thrown away. The centers are open ten hours per day,
six days a week.
b)
take their garbage to the
landfill where they pay by the pound as well. There is a $3 minimum and thereafter,
they charge $32/ton.
c)
contract with a private
hauler to handle their garbage and/or recyclables collection.
No matter which option is
chosen, the garbage generator must now pay the cost of collection and disposal.
White goods, yard trimmings, tires and lead-acid batteries can be taken to the
landfill for recycling. All
recyclables are transported from the six convenience centers to the 15,000
square foot material recovery facility located at the landfill, where items are
baled and stored.
Hart
Population: 20,430
Contact: Tony Moorhead
Households: 5,500
PO
Box 279
Hartwell, GA 30643
(706)
376-7333
FAX: same as telephone
The county began their
volume-based program July 1, 1995.
In establishing the program, they collected all the green boxes in the
county and set up seven staffed convenience centers for garbage and
recyclables. Residents who wish to
dispose of their garbage at the site must do so in one of the specially printed
county bags. Available are 32 gallon bags which sell for $1.00
and 16 gallon bags which sell for $.50.
Recycling is free. Bags are
sold at the convenience centers and at special retailers throughout the county.
The volume-based program is available to the 5,500 households in the county. The
tipping fee in the county is $35/ton.
The cost of the bag helps to offset the cost of collection and disposal
but it does not cover the county’s total expense. The difference is made up with
a fee on the residents’ property tax, which is how it was handled exclusively
before.
Montgomery
Population: 7,500
Contact: Danny Fountain,
Public Works Director
Households: 2,850
PO
Box 295
Mt.
Vernon, GA
30445
(912)
583-2363
FAX: (912) 583-2026
Previously, residents of Montgomery County took garbage to one of 102 unstaffed green box locations throughout the county. Solid waste maintenance, collection, disposal, and transport cost the county $225,000. This was paid for through property tax, and equaled about one quarter of the total property tax generated. The county wanted to find a way to lower the cost of solid waste and make the generators responsible for the cost of their own garbage.
On September 1, 1998, the county opened four collection centers, with a fifth center opening May 1, 1999. Within thirty days of opening the fifth center, the county plans to implement a price per pound program. Even though the volume-based program has operated at no cost to the resident for the first six months, the program has exceeded the county's best expectations of waste reduction and recycling.
Facility hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday from 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM. All facilities are staffed. Materials accepted free of charge are: newspaper, mixed paper, magazines, cardboard, green glass, brown glass, clear glass, plastic (except Styrofoam, plastic grocery bags and plastic wrap), tin and aluminum cans, passenger tires, batteries, used motor oil, oil filters, white goods and scrap iron, brown goods and agricultural chemical containers. The price per pound will be established to offset the total cost of waste management.
Murray
Population: 26,147
Contact: Roy Hunt
Households: N/A
PO
Box 1129
Chattsworth, GA 30705
(706)
695-0062
FAX: (706) 517-2559
Please call for more information.
Oconee
Population:
25,666
Contact: John McNally,
Oconee County Clean & Beautiful Director
Households: 7,300
or
Bob Thomson, County Administrator
1510 Wildcat Ridge
Road
Watkinsville, GA 30677
(706)
769-7327
FAX: same as telephone - please call before
sending fax
Email: john_ocbc@msn.com
In May of 1994, Oconee
County removed its 119 green boxes from 39 sites and set up four convenience
centers (one acre each, fenced, lighted and three are staffed with retirees who
are paid about $5.50 an hour) throughout the county. As of February 1999, Oconee County has
six staffed convenience centers.
The centers are open Mon-Sat 7AM-7 PM, and Sunday 1-4 PM. The residents are required to purchase
special blue bags for their garbage: $1.50 for a 32 gallon bag and $1.00 for a
20 gallon bag. Bags can be
purchased at various retail establishments (sold to retailers for $1.40 so they
make $.10 per bag) throughout county. Residents bring garbage in blue bags and
recyclables in any container they wish to the convenience center for
disposal. Otherwise, residents can
contract with one of three commercial private haulers (United Waste, Robertson
Sanitary Service, and F4) for curbside garbage collection. Once recyclables are collected at
centers, they are transported to the closed/inert landfill where they are baled
and sold. Some recyclables are now
commingled and taken to the Athens-Clarke County Material Recovery Facility for
further processing. Since
implementing the Variable Rate Program, solid waste volume has decreased and
tipping fees have decreased from $18,000 to $6,000 per year
Oglethorpe
Contact: Jay Paul
Population:
11,100
Environmental Code
Enforcement Officer
Households: N/A
P.O. Box
261
Lexington, GA
30648
(706)
743-7262
FAX: (706) 743-7262
In the past, Oglethorpe
County's system for solid waste management basically consisted of roadside
dumpsters that were open to the public 24 hours a day. At these sites, there would often be an
excess of debris deposited. When
the dumpsters either filled up or overflowed, county personnel cleaned the area
and the dumpsters would be emptied.
The solid waste would then be transported to the Athens/Clarke County
landfill, where Oglethorpe County would pay for the tonnage
delivered.
In September 1998, the
County realized its solid waste system was not practical. The system was costly, unsightly, and
difficult to maintain. The county
realized the need to implement a better system and began plans for a new system
that encouraged recycling and was more cost effective. On January 12,1999, the county
implemented a Pay-As-You-Throw system that mandated all residents using the
county facility for their trash disposal use a county authorized trash bag - the
"Green Bag." The green bags cost
$1.50 each. The 30 gallon plastic
bag, imprinted with the Oglethorpe County logo, is made available to residents
through local retailers.
Since approval of the PAYT
program, Oglethorpe County has designated four areas within the county for
recycling and disposal of household waste.
All sites are fenced and secured and staffed by an attendant. Three of the sites are open 24 hours per
week. The largest site is open 55
hours per week.
Pickens
Population:
14,432
Contact: Burley Young
Households: N/A
3043 Camp
Road
Jasper, GA 30143
(706)
692-2722
FAX: (706) 692-3649
In 1991, the county built a
convenience center for residential garbage and recycling collection. Residents are charged $1 per bag of
garbage (limit of five bags) when they take it to the center and recycling is
free. Residents also have the
option of taking their garbage directly to the transfer station. There, they are charged 2 1/2 cents per
pound or $45 per ton for garbage disposal.
Their system is set up as an enterprise fund, so all the costs for
collection and disposal are covered by the fees charged. There is no publicly provided curbside
pickup but there are some private haulers in the county who provides this
service.
Rockdale
Population: 66,440
Contact: Chuck Boelkins, Recycling Coordinator
Households: N/A
P.O. Box
289
Conyers, GA
30012
(770)
785-6883
FAX: (770) 922-2213
Email: chappellgroup@mindspring.com
Please call for more
information
Tift
Population:
19,292
Tifton/Tift Clean Community
Commission
Households: 5,500
Contact: Sherrie Sumner
The
Myron Complex
P.O. Box
229
Tifton, GA 31793
(912)
382-6231
FAX: (912) 391-9955
In October of 1992, the Tift
County Commissioners converted their residential garbage collection from tax
subsidization to a “user-fee” system.
The county’s 23 dumpster sites were centralized into eight staffed
collection centers for garbage and recycling. The county bid the operation of the
sites out on a contract basis. Each
site has lights, 8x12 office building, fencing and landscaping. The hours of operation vary by site but
ranges from 30 to 80 hours per week.
County residents are required to purchase a special “Tift County” garbage
bag from grocery and discount stores for disposing of their garbage: $1.50 for a
3eight gallon bag, $.75 for a 16 gallon bag, and $.45 for an eight gallon
bag. Each bag is a different color
for easy identification. The fee
for the bag includes the tipping fee at the landfill for disposal of this amount
of garbage, transportation of garbage to landfill, operation of sites, and cost
of bag. For example, for the 38
gallon bag:
$1.50=$.16 cost
of bag+$.10 handling cost+ $1.24 for collection, transportation &
disposal/tipping fee.
Recycling is offered free to
residents if brought to one of the collection centers. Solid waste volume decreased
significantly since the introduction of this program and they have basically
been able to break even with their costs.
Modified Variable Rate Based
Programs
Forsyth
Contact: Nancy Smallwood
Population:
64,530
110
East Main Street
Households: N/A
Cummings, GA
30040
(770)
781-2175
FAX: (770) 781-2104
Email: my3boys@mindspring.net
Forsyth County collects
garbage at the transfer station at the old landfill site. Single axle trucks and residential
pick-up trucks are accepted and pay a minimum fee of $5.00 or $30.00 per
ton. Forsyth County has over thirty
residential haulers who service a curbside collection in the county. Fees range from $11 - $15 per
month. Haulers then bring waste to
the county transfer station or a private landfill. The county has two drop-off centers,
which have compactors for waste.
The drop-off centers provide recycling for free and charge $.25 per bag
for residential garbage. Bags
cannot exceed 32 gallons. The
staffed drop-off site has two employees: one full-time and one part-time, both
of which are retirees. The money
collected from the drop-off sites is taken to a safety box at the Sheriff's
Department, as the sites have been subject to several break-ins and
robberies.
Jackson
Population:
33,077
Contact: Tom Page
Households: N/A
Solid Waste
Department
PO
Box 434
Jefferson, GA 30549
(706)
367-5253
FAX: (706)
367-2340
The county introduced a
volume-based program to their residents in the beginning of 1994. They tried
selling special “Jackson County” bags (16 gallon bags for $.75 each and 38
gallon bags for $1.50 each) but residents resisted. Prior to that, garbage
collection had been free. In
response to this resistance, the county changed the way their volume-based
program was run. Now, county
residents either take their garbage directly to the transfer station or to one
of the two compactor sites in the county. Garbage is accepted in 32 gallon or less
bags and residents are charged according to the number of bags they bring to the
site: one to five bags is $3, six to ten bags is $5, and 11-15 bags is $7.
Recycling is free if brought to the compactor site. Recyclables are then taken to the
transfer station where they are placed on the tipping floor for additional
sorting and processing before marketing to vendors. The two compactor sites are
fenced and staffed and open to the public 7AM-7PM, Monday through Saturday. The sites were recently sold to WSI, a
private entity.
Lincoln
Population: 7,442
Contact: Robert Ashmore,
Solid Waste Manager
Households: N/A
PO
Box 340, Courthouse
Lincolnton, GA 30817
(706)
359-7162
FAX: (706) 359-4729
In February 1995, green
boxes throughout the county were removed.
At the same time, the county instituted a garbage fee for residents of
$1.25 per bag of garbage (any size bag).
The residents were very upset by this change and as a result, the county
has seen an increase in illegal dumping and burning. However, the county offers recycling to
its residents at the transfer station at no extra cost. The system is not set up as an
enterprise fund, as of yet, since the fee does not cover the cost to collect and
dispose of the garbage.