Q&A; set for weekly trash collection

The city will host a public meeting regarding once-a-week automated trash collection at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, at the Community Building located at 110 N. Mount Olive St.

City public services manager Randy Atkinson, solid waste superintendent Don Tennison and communication manager Holland Hayden will be available to answer questions.

"We hope that residents do come to us with questions, rather than not getting the information they need," Atkinson said. "This is something I've been working on for nearly a decade. It will make Siloam Springs a better steward of the environment while also reducing the number of injuries to our sanitation collectors."

The city Board of Directors approved the switch to once-a-week trash collection at their Feb. 3 meeting. Currently, solid waste customers have twice-a-week collection, which is done manually. Once-a-week collection begins Oct. 5.

Residents will soon receive postcards in the mail asking them to select a bin size and choose how to pay the $50 deposit -- either all at once on their bill or in $10 increments over a five-month period.

The city will provide two bin options: a 64-gallon bin, which will hold five 13-gallon trash bags; and a 96-gallon bin, which will hold seven 13-gallon trash bags.

If residents choose the 64-gallon container, their rate will remain $15.48 a month. If residents choose the 96-gallon bin, their rate will increase to $19.48 per month.

If residents do not get their collection choices to the city, they will receive a 64-gallon bin and will pay the $50 deposit in full on their bill. Senior citizens will pay a $25 deposit.

"This is going to be a transition for residents, but we will support their needs the best we can," Hayden said. "There is a full communication plan in place so that very few questions remain before the once-a-week automated collection starts."

General News on 03/25/2015