City Residents Get Reduction in Trash Collection Fee

By Bill Johnson

Residents of Gwinnett County's newest and biggest city will see their monthly trash collection fee reduced starting January 1 thanks to the city's solid waste collection, disposal and recycling services agreement with Waste Pro, Inc. approved by city council Tuesday.

"During the campaign for cityhood, we promised we would lower the cost of trash collection for our citizens," said Mayor Mike Mason. "Tonight, I am very happy that we have kept that promise."

Under the current agreement between Gwinnett County and Waste Pro, residents now pay $18.65 per month per household for the basic curbside pickup service. That agreement expires on Dec. 31.

When the city takes over trash collection services on Jan. 1, residents will pay $11.50 per month per household. The basic service includes one 95-gallon cart and one 18-gallon recycling container, a savings of $7.15 per month for the same service currently provided. The annual savings is $85.80 for a savings of 38.3% annually.  

Curbside pickup will be weekly on Monday or Tuesday. To ensure pickup, residents  must leave containers at the pickup point no later than 7 a.m. Waste Pro will provide side door pick-up to elderly or disabled residents who are physically unable to place containers at curbside.

The city will also offer several optional services, all of which represent substantial savings compared to the current contract.

For example, under the county contract, city residents pay $10 per month for the yard waste option. Under the city contract, the fee will be reduced to $2.95 per month with a minimum agreement of six months, a savings of $84.60 annually.

Households that desire a 65-gallon recycling cart will pay an additional $1.20 per month.

Seniors will receive a 15 percent discount and residents are also eligible for an innovative recycling rewards program.   

Council members Jeanne Aulbach and Lorri Christopher worked hard to ensure that a recycling reward for citizens was included.

"I was very happy to see this rewards program added," Aulbach said. "We wanted to encourage everyone to recycle and by offering this as part of the service, we will do that. A secondary benefit is that  local businesses will provide the rewards for the program, encouraging people to support those businesses. "

The contract will automatically renew each year for a four-year period unless the city provides notice of intent not to renew 90 days prior to end of the current term.

Items that may not be recycled include food waste, food containers, food utensils, styrofoam containers with wax coating, medical waste like needles and restroom waste.

Waste Pro also offers a 100 percent recycling rebate to the city based on net profit from all recycled materials within the city.

“The City Council is honored to share the news of additional sanitation services at a lower cost to our Peachtree Corners citizens while also be able to support increased sustainability efforts through the city recycling rewards program. The efforts will enable the city to work toward being recognized as a Green city. The innovative recycling rewards program is a first for WastePro in Georgia” noted Lorri Christopher.

Editor's note: Bill Johnson is the public information officer for the city of Peachtree Corners.