Waste Not, Want Not

Let's talk trash. The Waitsburg City Council last month got its first look at a proposed new garbage collection agreement with Basin Disposal Inc. based in the Tri Cities.

The current agreement, signed eight years ago, comes to an end in September. The new agreement, a draft of which was presented to the council by company president Darrick Dietrich at the last council meeting, would cover the next 10 years. (see story on page 1)

The give and take that unfolded at the meeting - with council members asking numerous questions of Dietrich - may be among the longest deliberations of the current council yet.

Council members were rightly expressed some concerns about the proposed increases and sought ways to shield the city's economically challenged residents from their impact.

But what was noteworthy was one point of interest that was not addressed: an incentive for those who make a concerted effort to reduce their contribution to the waste stream.

The contract offers two basic options for the size garbage can residents use: 96 gallons and 64 gallons. The problem is that users pay the same for each. The reason the 64-gallon is offered at all is convenience. It's easier, particularly for elderly residents, to move a 64-gallon can.

That means there's no incentive for anyone to get a 64-gallon because they generate less waste.

We believe there should be.

We'll use ourselves as an example. Granted, our household is small. We're only three. But we regularly have trouble filling our 96-gallon can even a third of the way let alone half or all the way. The exception is the gardening season when we have organic debris. Even Christmas is manageable with lots of wrapping and boxes easily re-used.

Since we arrived, we've been consistent about composting and recycling. All vegetable matter and other organics, including peels, grounds, egg shells, toast, etc., go into a bin on the kitchen counter.

When it's full, it goes into a back yard composting bay which we made from some pallets our neighbor gave us. We started the setup last year. This year, we're using our first compost for our first vegetable garden.

Other items go into recycling bins in the kitchen: bottles, plastics, cans, cardboard and paper. That leaves very little going into the BDI garbage can.

Our object is not to boast about this but just to point out that it can be done and that more Waitsburg residents might reduce their waste even more than they already are if they had some financial recognition of their effort.

We spoke with Dietrich about this. He explained that Basin Disposal does offer "variable pricing" - different-sized cans at different rates: 32-, 64- and 96-gallon bins - in other markets where it operates.

But in some of those markets, litter becomes the problem because local residents order the smaller can to save money, then promptly stuff them with too much garbage and Basin Disposal is left cleaning up. It's particularly problematic with the 32-gallon cans, a third the size most of us have here in town.

Dietrich sounded like he was open to the idea of offering at least a two-rate pricing structure in the new agreement: for 64-gallon cans and 96-gallon bins. But it is something the council will have to ask for.

We believe it's a good idea to explore this option for the sake of the environment.

Lastly, we spoke to Dietrich about the recycling station on Coppei Avenue across from Preston Park. There too we see some issues. The mixed paper bay is always full as it's one of the smallest. Unfortunately, making any adjustments would require cutting back the space of another bay, but here too Dietrich seemed interested in exploring some options.

Although the contract with Basin is amendable in the future, it's good to get most of these types on concerns addressed early on. If you have ideas for ways to improve the current setup, please let you council members know.