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Details of trash plan available
New disposal areas, haulers
start Jan. 2
By Jamie Ward
Staff
Writer
LAWRENCEVILLE - Two questions have been answered regarding Gwinnett's new
solid waste plan set to take effect Jan. 2 - how much will it cost me and who is
picking up my trash?
According to Connie Wiggins, director of Gwinnett
Clean and Beautiful, the two haulers selected will each service three distinct
areas which encompass all residents of unincorporated Gwinnett
County.
"Advanced Disposal Services Atlanta LLC and Waste Pro of Georgia
Inc. were the highest ranked of seven interested companies and also offered the
lowest and best price for services," Wiggins said in a released statement. "And
significantly lower than all the others."
According to GCB Services, the
nonprofit entity created to service the county's plan titled "A Greener Tomorrow
Begins Today," beginning Jan 2, all residents will begin service with their new
hauler during what is being touted as an initial phase-in period. This will last
through June 30 and residents will be individually billed by their hauler at a
rate of $20.45 a month. During this period households will also receive two,
95-gallon wheeled carts - one for garbage and one for recyclables. The number of
recyclable items will also increase from the current amount of 7 to 35.
Then beginning July 1, residents will stop receiving bills from their
hauler altogether and will begin paying the rate of $17.86 per month, once a
year when they pay their annual property tax bill. Over the course of a 12-month
period this amounts to an annual fee of $214.32. Wiggins said this monthly fixed
amount will remain constant through Dec. 31, 2010. Any fee increases after that
would have to be brought in front of the GCB Services Board and the increase
would have to receive support from the board along with justification from the
company. She also said there are no hidden fees or deposit amounts that will
surprise people.
"The fees are the fees," she said.
Wiggins also
said the monthly fee during the first six months of the new program is $2.59
higher than what it will eventually amount to because of general implementation
costs as the program ramps up.
"The efficiencies will really kick in when
the county takes over," she said. "We've tried our best to make sure residents
get high quality service and value."
Along the lines of maintaining a
high level of service and value, Wiggins said a new call center and Web site
have been established to help residents with the transition and that as a result
of the plan, every home in the unincorporated portions of the county will now
have service. Wiggins said there are 20,000 homes that have no service at all
and that this problem leads to illegal dumping and an unnecessary cost for
taxpayers in order to clean up the mess.
"I've heard stories of people
intentionally putting an open garbage bag or two on top of the trunk of their
car and just driving off while the trash just blows everywhere," she
said.
For residents who have complained that the new system is being
forced upon them, GCB Services points to two years of work with more than 5,000
citizens who've participated in the community forums and the public hearing
process. There is also a citizens advisory board comprised of 50 residents where
concerns can be addressed. They also point to the fact that the new plan will
equal same-day service in each area which means better curb appeal and a neater
neighborhood appearance plus less traffic, less fuel consumption and less
pollution as a result of fewer trucks being on the road.
But in tough
economic times, the benefit of this plan appears to be the cost savings directed
at consumers.
"Based on on-going market studies and rates reported by
citizens, the current average price for garbage and recycling service in
Gwinnett is $21 per month," the statement said. "The 'Greener Tomorrow' program
will provide services at more affordable rates."
Wiggins also said
residents who will be switching providers as a result of the new plan need to
remain vigilant in watching the fees they are being charged on their bill. Some
transition fees being charged by haulers as a result of the new plan has upset
some residents.
"Some of what has happened underscores the need for the
program," Wiggins said. "But if anyone has received after Nov. 1 an increased
bill, they need to let us know about it because that's not allowed based on the
contract in place with the county. The companies cannot levy those fees. If the
fees were assessed before Nov. 1, people should take that up with their
individual hauler."
For more information on the new plan's
implementation, visit www.gwinnettcbservices.org
- Construction Update
Construction on the section of Old Suwanee should be completed later this
week. The road will be temporarily resurfaced the middle of next week. This
should be a smooth surface but will not be the final resurfacing which will
not happen for several months because the new water pipes have to be tested
and welded.
Next week, work will begin on Wooodward Mill between Old Suwanee and
Satellite. There will be no through traffic for the 4-5 weeks that the
project is expected to take.
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