LAKEPORT — For the second year in a row, Lakeport Disposal will have an adjusted winter schedule for yard waste pick-up. Lakeport Disposal serves citizens within city limits only.
Instead of picking up yard waste four times per month, the winter schedule will provide once-a-month pick-up. Up to three additional containers will be supplied free of charge, in order to continue the same level of service, according to Lakeport Disposal president Joe Butcher.
The new schedule will last from January 1 through March 31 only, and then will revert to the four times per month pick-up. During the winter schedule, the green yard waste containers will be picked up curb side the first week of each month.
The goal of the adjusted winter schedule is threefold, according to Butcher. “It keeps the fees lower, it saves fuel and it”s better on the roads,” Butcher said.
He added that people do not generally have as much yard waste during winter months, and so the reduced number of trips makes sense. But for those who continue to need the use of four containers, the only difference is they are picked up just once per month.
Butcher said last year, some people were confused by the change. He emphasized that citizens can look up details of the schedule on the Web at www.lkptdisposal.com, or call the office at 263-6080 for more information.
The decision to alter the winter schedule came last year when the Lakeport City Council voted in October 2006 to reduce the hauling of green waste from four times per month to once-a-month pick-up, when not much green waste is produced. According to Community Development Director Richard Knoll, the goal is to save money for the garbage hauler company. By keeping Lakeport Disposal”s costs down, the city avoids increasing fees.
At the city council meeting Tuesday, the city discussed the routine, annual rate increase for the garbage hauler, to keep up with the cost of living increase. Typically, the rates go up 1.4 percent, which is 75 percent of the consumer price index. Last year, the price for a 32 gallon container increased from $18.39 to $18.65 per month.
City Manager Jerry Gillham gave his staff recommendation to council members that they delay approving the increase until “other issues” the city has with the company are ironed out. Several members said they did not want to “hold hostage” the company, citing that it was not fair for the city to do so just to get the company to address the city”s complaints with their franchise agreement.
Lance Butcher with Lakeport Disposal approached the council, asking for rates to be approved as soon as possible, and that Lakeport Disposal “is ready at any time to sit down and discuss [the issues].”
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
