Downtown Sidewalks To Be Free of Trash

Skip Decker briefs city council on downtown compactor.
Skip Decker briefs city council on downtown compactor.

Unsightly smelly bags of trash, waiting for pickup downtown by city trucks, may be a thing of the past soon. Skip Decker, manager of the Solid Waste Management Department, said after 10 years they have finally found a place for a trash compactor in the Downtown Central Business District, on Kirk Ave. next to Mill Mountain Coffee.

“It’s not visually appealing when trash is sitting outside and you’re sitting with your glass of wine having your dinner,” said Decker. Not having visitors first impression being of  downtown littered with bags trash on the sidewalks is another reason DRI, Inc. likes this idea. Local businesses are onboard this time.

In the past a location for dumpsters or compactors was an impediment. One location behind the Jefferson Street Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce was objected to by Joyce Waugh years ago. Businesses thought that toting trash to a dumpster or a compactor would be a burden on employees.

The operation of the compactor will eliminate multiple daily pickups of CBD (Central Business District) trash by providing 24/7 day trash disposal for restaurants and businesses. The service will be available starting July 1. Trash pickup will still be available until January 1, 2014.

Electricity needs to be extended to the rear of the Kirk Avenue site next to Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea. Site preparation will cost $150,000 with $65,000 annually for operation.

Currently businesses pay $70 to $120 annually for trash pickup. For those still leaving trash out for pickup the cost will double. The cost structure for using the compactor will provide two free uses per week and $1 for every use thereafter. Usage will be capped at the current rate.

Recycling will give businesses an incentive to reduce costs by curtailing the need to use the compactor. There will be no charge for recycling.

Cost to the city will be go from $125,000 in the CBD to $65,000 annually. City Manager Chris Morrill said the real benefit is that freed resources will result in improved cleanliness in the downtown area.

Since employees will be carting trash to the compactor throughout the day Morrill said that the area will need to be monitored for trash trails left on the way to the compactor – there will be a transition period.

– Valerie Garner

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