Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 5, 1993 TAG: 9306050378
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Despite nearly a year of publicity about the city's plan, hundreds of residents have called the city this week with questions about it.
"Some people have called and said they just heard about it," said Michelle Bono, city public information officer.
"We have had one of the most massive informational campaigns in the city's history and yet some people say they don't know about it," Bono said.
Elderly residents have the most questions, she said.
Now, the city collects trash at the curb for one third of residents, one third at the alley and the rest in residents' backyards.
There will be no change for those who already take their trash to the curb or alley.
But backyard service will end for all residents except those who have a doctor's statement exempting them and those willing to pay a fee to keep it.
Nearly 500 residents have asked the city to continue backyard garbage collection for them because they are physically unable to carry their trash to the curb.
About two dozen residents are willing to pay a fee to keep the backyard service.
To inform residents, city employees have gone door-to-door in recent weeks to deliver door hangers detailing the changes. Residents whose collection dates will change have also been notified.
The fee for residents who want the premium backyard service will range from $10 a month to $30 a month for more, depending on the distance from the street to the pick-up point.
The monthly charge is $10 for a distance of 100 feet or less. The fee for each additional 100 feet will be $7. So the charge for 300 feet would be $24 a month.
Residents seeking the premium service must also pay a $20 non-refundable application fee.
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," said Jim McClung, manager of the city's Solid Waste Department.
The money saved by the elimination of backyard service will be used to help pay the big increase in dumping fees when the new regional landfill opens. The fee will increase from $20 to $55 a ton.
by CNB