Since then, additional concerns have brought trash collection to the forefront, such as:

• Illegal dumping in the National Forest;

• Encouraging recycling;

• Wear and tear on City roads caused by garbage trucks; and

• Traffic and noise created by multiple trash haulers in a single neighborhood.

In August 2007, the City Manager's office mailed a residential survey to all the Homeowner's Association Presidents in Sedona to get feedback from residents on trash collection.  The survey asked residents if they are satisfied with their trash hauling service, the monthly cost, what types of trash their haulers pick up, and whether or not they would support the City assuming all residential trash pickup and assessing each property owner a mandatory monthly fee for trash service.

Most respondents said they have residential trash service, are satisfied, and generally pay between $15-$30 per month.  Most respondents also said that they don't think the City should be in the business of managing trash collection.

At the City Council meeting, City Manager Eric Levitt laid out possible trash collection options for the City Council to consider:

• The City assumes responsibility for all trash collection, provides trash collection to all homeowners in Sedona, and charges a fee.  This would ensure that no resident has an incentive to dump trash in the National Forest. The downside would be less competition that could lead to lower quality service.

• The City requires that trash haulers in the City limits be licensed and regulated.  This would allow the City to require recyclables and biomass pickup, and when and on what streets haulers can operate.  However, the trash haulers might be willing to do this anyway.

• Charge a truck permit fee to pay for the wear and tear to the roads caused by garbage trucks.  The trash haulers have asked why they should be singled out; why not delivery trucks, landscapers, and contractors?

• Do nothing.

To encourage recycling, Kate Blevins of Verde Earthworks, said the most effective way for the City to protect the environment is to create a cardboard ordinance for Sedona businesses. Ms. Blevins said that 75% of what's thrown away is cardboard.  By segregating cardboard for recycling, it would save room in the landfills.

She also said that Sedona residents aren't the ones illegally dumping in the National Forest.  Approximately 90% of Sedona residents have trash service.  Most of the culprits, she said, are small haulers like landscapers and contractors that want to avoid the cost of hauling their waste to landfills.

In the end, the City Council concluded that Sedona's trash problems might best be served by communicating better with local trash haulers rather than regulating them.

In a 7-0 vote, the Council asked the City Manager to investigate the pros and cons of a cardboard ordinance, ways to encourage resident recycling, and ways to work with local waste haulers to broaden the trash services they offer Sedona residents.

[Home Page] [News Home Page] [Back to Community Page]