By Lee Weyhrich
The Pinson City Council on Thursday held a hearing and received comments about the possibility of a citywide garbage pickup service.
The city is not yet accepting bids for the service.
Pinson is working to prepare a request for proposal and welcomes any input from citizens or vendors as it progresses, said Mayor Hoyt Sanders. The future bidding process includes preparing the bidding documents, advertise them, set a time for them to arrive, set a bid opening, approve a resolution calling for bids and have formal specifications available.
“We are not getting the service level even Kimberly is getting, and they are not even a city, just a small town, really,” Councilman Joe Cochran said.
Pinson City Councilman Joe Cochran
photo courtesy of the city of Pinson
The city council hopes to improve area garbage rates, as well as the service. The service would also be open to those within the city’s police jurisdiction that may not technically be Pinson residents.
“Hopefully we will improve the rate, and possibly the service,” Cochran said.
City council members discussed the items they wish to receive in the bids for collection, including weekly curbside trash collection, bi-weekly recycling pickup and new 95-gallon receptacles for participants.
Councilwoman Joy McCain suggested yard debris pickup also be included in any bid.
One concern was what to do about residents currently getting trash pickup two days per week. Cochran said the council would also entertain bids for twice-weekly pickup and compare rates.
The city of Clay began curbside recycling in April. The Clay City Council in March accepted a garbage pickup bid from BFI Waste Systems, which is doing business as Republic Services. Residents of Clay are now paying $13.65 per month, which includes mandatory recycling. Clay residents kept the garbage cans they already had, and a separate 95-gallon bin for recycling was distributed to them. Residents are responsible for separating their recycling.
On Dec. 1, the city of Trussville will begin a new garbage contract. Recyclable garbage will by picked up weekly instead of every other week.
