After reading the recent headlines that St. Paul officials are demanding answers from the city’s trash haulers, one can only wonder, how did we get to this point? Aren’t we sick and tired of talking about trash and putting up with one excuse after the next from the almighty garbage consortium?
St. Paul, whether you like organized trash or not, we consumers got the rotten end of the current garbage contract, and it is way past time that our elected leaders own up and fix the mess.
How, in the first 10-days of June alone, could there have been 2,800+ reports of missed trash and yard waste pickups?
Why has the cost of illegal dumping increased every year since 2019, with 2022 on pace to cost a record $748,000?
What can be done to fix a system that requires all residents to pay for disposal of bulky items, yet less than 11 percent of the total possible allotment is used annually?
Why is a multifamily property containing five residents mandated to pay for two to four times more volume of garbage than a single-family household comprised of five residents?
Why not share a cart?
The list goes on.
Certainly, as pointed out in 2019 by proponents of organized collection, there is significant value in having a single hauler in a neighborhood. It reduces wear and tear on streets and alleys. This is especially true in St. Paul where deferred street maintenance is prolific. Less truck traffic also reduces harmful emissions at a crucial time where we are reeling from climate change. And yes, it can lead to standard pricing to guarantee that all residents, regardless of location and native language, get a “square deal.”
The problem is not the concept of organized trash, but rather the rotting details of the current contract.
In 2019 the mayor, the majority of the City Council, and many non-profits supported and campaigned for the contract. Voters overwhelmingly agreed. Historic redlining in St. Paul reared its ugly head with the election results: wealthier areas voted heavily in favor while poorer neighborhoods voted against. And that is no wonder, because of the devastating impact of the contract on low-income renters and those on fixed incomes.
Since 2018 we have confronted a flawed contact. We are not getting the service we paid for. Therefore, now is the time for those who led the charge against changes in 2019 to belatedly follow through on their promised future changes.
Instill confidence by admitting mistakes and pledging that future garbage contracts will be customer-focused, not hauler-focused.
First, eliminate mandatory bulky-item services.
Negotiate a simple opt-in service. Data clearly show that very few people use this service, while paying a premium for it. Illegal dumping has not decreased as promised as a result.
Second, allow cart sharing for multifamily locations.
Currently, each dwelling unit must have its own garbage container, causing garbage trucks to idle two to four times longer due to unnecessary carts. Multifamily properties do not automatically produce multiple times more garbage than single-family neighbors. Sharing will also reduce costs to renters. Likewise, fewer carts equal less maintenance, a key saving since the city annually averages $115,000 per year to repair and replace carts.
Third, allow opt out for low waste generators and those who want to share a garbage cart with their neighbor.
Instead of today’s default motto, “when in doubt, throw it out,” why don’t we as a city actually promote “reduce, reuse, recycle”? Let’s encourage less garbage.
Finally, prioritize local haulers.
A glaring consequence of the original contract was that Waste Management quickly bought out other haulers who had been given guaranteed customer lists pursuant to the consortium agreement. This reduced the total number of haulers from 15 to five with Waste Management now providing service to 56 percent of involved dwelling units. This drastic change has left residents with sporadic service from the Texas-based hauler which is the largest in the nation. While we cannot resurrect the 10 haulers lost, we can seek and provide preference for local haulers who excel in customer service.
We need our leaders to acknowledge past mistakes, implement constructive suggestions, rank resident voices at least equal to garbage haulers’ bottom lines, and demonstrate true progress by plotting an environmentally beneficial path forward.
The current organized trash contract expires on Sept. 30, 2023, and everything is on the table for impending negotiation. Let’s get it right this time – for consumers and for the environment. We deserve better.
Andy Rorvig and Alisa Lein, both of St. Paul, are members of the St. Paul Garbage Advisory Committee. This piece reflects their own opinions, not necessarily those of other members of the advisory committee.
