Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 28, 1993 TAG: 9305280270
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But only 22 residents are willing to pay a fee to keep the service.
The city will end backyard service next month except for those who have a doctor's statement and those willing to pay.
Now, the city collects garbage at the street curb for one-third of the residents, one-third at the alley and the rest in back yards.
Beginning June 7, all trash must brought to the alley or curb.
Jim McClung, manager of solid waste management, said Thursday that 483 residents have applied for the medical exemption. City officials are still checking some of them to verify their validity.
The fee for 22 residents who want the premium back-yard service will be at least $10 a month, for a distance from the street to the pickup point of 100 feet or less. The fee for each additional 100 feet will be $7. For example, the charge for 300 feet is $24 a month.
Residents seeking the premium service also have to pay a $20 nonrefundable application fee.
Residents who already have alley collections or voluntarily take their cans to the curbs will not be affected.
When backyard service is eliminated, McClung said, the number of collection routes will be reduced from 16 to 14. The weekly collection days will change for 2,700 households. City officials estimate the elimination of backyard collection service will save $368,000 a year.
"When we go to [alley and curb collections], we will need only two employees on the back of each truck instead of three, and we'll be able to cover more homes per day because of the time we'll save," McClung said. Residents wanting more information can watch "The City Manager's Report" at 7 p.m. nightly on Cox Cable Channel 3 until June 10. It also will air at noon Sunday on WBRA, Blue Ridge Public TV.
by CNB