In a 5-1 vote on April 1, the dais approved a five year collection agreement with Frontier Waste Solutions, increasing monthly costs for residents from $14.46 to $19.20 as of July 1.
Council member Mark Davis—who was the single dissenting vote—said he expected rates to go up but thought the lack of communication with the public at large and the loss of the spring and fall cleanups were problematic.
"I don’t think though that we’re in tune with the community on the frequency and the types of service that they’re expecting out of trash collection with what's being recommended by the staff,” Davis said.
Breaking it down
Beginning July 1, garbage will be picked up once a week, with recycling and brush/bulk pickup occurring every other week. Garbage pickup costs $12.73 per month, with recycling at $4.37 per month and brush/bulk pickup at $1 per month.
The remaining $1.10 comes from a household hazardous waste option for items like pesticides, with residents able to call for a pickup and eliminate the need to take the waste anywhere outside their home, Assistant City Manager Sarah Gonzalez said.
City staff recommended the $19.20 option over a $22 flat rate which would have included once per week garbage, once per week recycling and every other week bulk and brush collection. The $22 flat rate was not chosen because it would have resulted in a $90.48 annual increase in costs, according to agenda documents.
Digging deeper
Approximately 5,200 residential accounts receive garbage and recycling pickup once a week, and approximately 9,300 residential accounts receive twice a week garbage pickup and once per week recycling. Both once per week and twice per week residential accounts are currently charged $14.46.
As part of the current agreement with Republic Services—which expires June 30—residents also receive monthly bulk pickup, access to spring and fall cleanup days, and optional curbside chipping, or brush removal, service, according to agenda documents.
The new agreement with Frontier Waste Solutions will “equalize” service across the city by standardizing pickup schedules, Gonzalez said. Curbside chipping service will no longer be provided with the increased brush pickup frequency, which will allow the Public Works division to focus on potholes and street repair, Gonzalez added.
The increased bulk and brush pickup service will also discontinue the annual fall and spring cleanups, which are 16-day periods with a temporary waste collection point.
Schertz residents will also receive a new 96-gallon garbage cart and a 96-gallon recycling cart. For residents who demonstrate a need or hardship, Frontier Waste Solutions will provide door to truck waste collection, according to agenda documents.
What residents are saying
Resident Michele Tereletsky said 96-gallon bins are anywhere from 43-46 inches tall on Amazon, noting that she is 63 inches tall.
"I know we have to change, I understand we have to go up in price, but there's some consideration that needs to be taken on the how [it is] being done," Tereletsky said.
Maggie Titterington, another Schertz resident, said she does not think that having a 96-gallon recycling cart is going to be unmanageable.
"I myself, welcome a bigger container. I'm only one person and a dog but sometimes when you're doing extra things or it's holidays and stuff it's really great to have a little bit of extra room and not be stacking up stuff," Titterington said.
