The Rockville Mayor and Council have identified preferred options for changes to the City’s refuse and recycling collection system that are expected to improve efficiency, reduce worker injuries, improve neighborhood cleanliness and encourage recycling. The preferred options would modernize the City’s collection system and continue collecting refuse twice a week and recyclables once a week. The Mayor and Council also supported continuing a flat-rate fee for each household, rather than a variable-based pricing system based on usage. Since the recommendations for changes to the City’s refuse and recycling system were proposed in December, the Mayor and Council received input from more than 100 residents through e-mails, letters and a public hearing in February. Preferred changes to the City refuse and recycling system include replacing the City’s current manual collection method with a “semi-automated” system. Under the current system, City workers collect refuse that has been set out either at the curb or in residents’ yards, and the workers lift the containers to dump the contents into trucks. The proposed new system would employ mechanical lift arms mounted on trucks to hoist specially designed wheeled carts with hinged lids. The carts would be provided by the City and collected at the curb or alley. Those who are unable to roll the carts to the curb or alley may apply to be served under an alternate arrangement. Residents would be able to select up to two refuse and two recycling carts, and have a choice of four sizes of each. The Mayor and Council agreed that the City would work with town home communities without garages or yards to store the carts to devise other solutions for their collections. Other proposed changes would allow residents to place most materials approved for recycling – including mixed paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum cans and plastic – into one container without separating. The current system requires residents to place paper and cardboard in paper bags and to put glass, aluminum and plastic in a City provided open bin. The Mayor and Council also preferred that all bulky items, including whitegoods (appliances and bulk items) and household hazardous waste, be collected by appointment. Weekly yard waste and seasonal leaf collection would continue. Rockville would begin using new “knuckleboom” trucks with mechanical arms to collect bulk refuse and large branches. In addition to making it easier and less manual, the “knuckleboom” also allows the City to collect large limbs and trees quickly after storms. Following the March discussion, the City’s Department of Public Works has begun preparing a budget for implementing the proposed changes and laying out an implementation plan that will be presented to the Mayor and Council for final approval later this Spring. Final decisions regarding the City’s refuse and recycling system are expected as part of the City’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget process. For details on the proposals, visit http://www.rockvillemd.gov/residents/refuseguide or call 240-314-8568 for more information.
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