ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, November 29, 1996              TAG: 9611290110
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B10  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER

MARKET TRASH TO LINGER LESS

THE CITY WILL TEST a schedule that doubles the daily collection of garbage from downtown, something business owners have wanted for a long time.

Downtown Roanoke will soon get a double dose of trash collection.

Beginning Monday, municipal refuse crews will test twice-nightly pick-up in the City Market area during December.

"Obviously we are very happy about it," said Matthew Kennell, executive director of Downtown Roanoke Inc. The organization has spent several months lobbying city administrators for the dual collection.

Downtown merchants and restaurants said the existing once-a-night collection, which begins at 8, means tourists and restaurant customers visiting the market district in the evening have had to walk past piles of trash on their way to dinner. And the restaurants have been faced with storing after-dinner refuse until the next night's collection, including two nights on weekends.

James McClung, manager for the city's solid waste management department, said he believes the change can be accomplished without paying overtime wages to the crews.

McClung said the trash pickup in the entire central business district will begin at 5:30 p.m., aimed at removing garbage from curbs before diners head to the restaurants.

The collection will begin in the City Market area and then proceed to other downtown blocks.

The city crews will begin a late-night run, limited to the market area, starting after 10:30 p.m.

Trash is collected downtown Mondays through Saturdays.

"This change is an effort to fairly evaluate the early set-out problems in the downtown area," McClung said in a memo to city administrators and Downtown Roanoke Inc.

McClung said the staff will monitor the twice-nightly collection during December and could recommend any adjustments after the test period ends.

Owners of downtown properties have been notified about the new schedule.

Municipal officials had said they feared that businesses in other sections of the city would demand comparable service. But Kennell countered that the City Market is a tourist attraction and major destination for local residents as well, thus deserving special treatment.

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