Council unsure big trash cans best
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

One trash can - albeit a big one - and the possibility of once a week pickups gave El Campo City Council members pause as they considered a garbage pilot program Tuesday night.

Allied Waste, the city's current garbage service, wants the city to consider containerized service using a one-man truck in the future.

To see how citizens will react, representatives are requesting a still undefined target area of the city be used for a 90-day trial period.

Council delayed any decision on the issue until the next meeting with Mayor Philip Spenrath saying he wanted a committee to take a look at the proposed program. Spenrath, Councilman Robert Boone (the El Campo sanitation chief when the city handled its own garbage) and Councilman Anthony Collins will serve on the committee.

The 90-day trial would be a free service, AW representative Matt Locke told Council, adding it would give his company a chance to introduce the program locally, conduct a feasibility study and do a cost benefit analysis for the city.

With rising fuel costs, the city is looking for ways to save money, City Manager John Steelman told Council.

With a containerized program, one garbage man could man a truck using a hydraulic lift to hoist the containers.

Since the containers hold 95 gallons - about three large standard garbage cans - pickup may be reduced to once a week, Locke said.

Community Service Director Leonard Sternadel said he had experienced this sort of trash service while living in Lake Charles, La. with three children at home.

"The only time we filled (the container) was holidays," he said.

Councilman Robert Boone expressed concerns with a once a week program.

"In this humidity and heat, I don't see how it would work. It will be hard to convince the public," he said.

Heavy brush pickup would not be affected by the program.

The city could also look at a two container system - a standard blue for trash and a green for yard waste, Locke said.

What savings might be garnered by the program won't be known until after a pilot program, Locke told Council.

Council is expecting to revisit the issue at its upcoming April 8 meeting.

The current garbage contract expires in October.