Published: August 23, 2008 10:57 pm         

Garbage robots?

• City’s automated waste collection pilot program will begin next month

The city of Stillwater will begin testing a pilot program for safer and more efficient trash collections in September.

The pilot version of the Automated Residential Waste Collection program runs from September to February, targeting specific areas of the city.

“It’s being phased in over four different areas of the city,” said Sherry Fletcher, director of marketing and public relations for Stillwater.

Residents in test areas will be offered trash carts in three sizes: 48 gallons, 64 gallons and 96 gallons. Residents pay a monthly fee for each cart, depending on size, plus an additional fee for extra carts. 48-gallon carts cost $12.13 per month for the first cart and $9.18 for extras. Sixty-four gallon carts will cost $13.13 per month for the first cart and $9.89 per month for each additional cart. Carts holding 96 gallons cost $14.13 per month and $10.60 per month for each additional cart. A deposit of $50 will be required for new carts if more than one is lost or stolen within a year, Fletcher said.

Four target areas have been chosen to test the program, with maps available on the city’s Web site, www.stillwater.org. Route one includes neighborhoods in the area of Airport Road and North Washington Street, North Perkins Road and Richmond, and North Perkins Road and Burris Road.

Route two includes neighborhoods along Range Road from 19th almost to Sixth and a neighborhood near Sixth and Country Club.

Route three travels along Sixth from Stallard to Brush Creek Road up to Virginia Avenue.

Route four situates around Lakeview Road and Perkins Road and over to Jardot.

Current routes pickup waste twice a week, but the new carts will only need to be emptied once per week. Trucks pickup the cans using automated arms, which provides added safety for city employees. If residents find they need more space than the carts provide, 35-gallon trash bags may be obtained from the city, however, trucks will only pickup the carts, so residents may drop off bags at the Convenience Collection Center located at 809 S. Perkins Road, according to the city.

Houseside service will also be provided for a fee if residents choose not to take carts to curbs themselves, but the service may be provided free of cost to the elderly and infirm, said Ralph Kinder, director of public works. Fees for the service are $22.69 per month for the first cart, plus an additional $22.69 for the second cart.

Normal household waste should be the only waste placed in the carts. They should not be used for dirt, rock, sod, concrete, hot ashes or coals; hazardous materials; or construction debris or tires. Oversized or bulky waste should be disposed of by contacting the city to arrange a residential cleanup service, or it may be taken to the Convenience Collection Center. Yard waste will still be picked up Wednesdays.

At the end of the pilot program, the city will mail satisfaction surveys, noting any problems and complaints they find, and will make a presentation before the City Council to determine if the program is to be implemented.

But compared to the manual system currently in place, one Kinder describes as “outdated, inefficient and labor-intensive,” city officials are hopeful of the new program.

“This program is state-of-the-art,” he said. “It provides better service (to our residents) than our current one.”

     

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