County to test trash options

Trash collection for the masses isn't changing in Clark County -- yet.

But in target communities, which have yet to be chosen, Clark County will be testing three new trash collection options aimed at increasing the area's participation in curbside recycling, which lags behind that of other Southwestern cities.

"We're somewhere in the dismal category," Evergreen Recycling President Rob Dorinson told the Clark County Commission on Tuesday.

Dorinson, who is on the Southern Nevada Recycling Advisory Committee, presented the commission with a list of recommendations on increasing recycling.

It included three pilot programs that would allow residents to dump all of their recyclables into a single container for ease of use. Clark County residents now have to sort recyclable materials into three separate containers.

Glass is excluded from collection in the pilot program, but the range of paper products is being expanded to include cereal boxes, junk mail and books.

The pilot programs would last for up to a year and provide data to the county on what would work best for residents. The three options being tested include the following:

• Solid waste collection twice a week with biweekly recycling collection.

• Solid waste collection twice a week with weekly recycling collection.

• And once-a-week solid waste collection with once-a-week recycling pickups.

Clark County commissioners opposed reducing solid waste collections from twice a week to once a week. That idea was shouted down by the public last year when the advisory committee made its first report.

But Dorinson said that single week solid-waste pickups were being recommended because if people participate in recycling, they will not require twice weekly solid-waste collections.

Commissioners Tom Collins and Chris Giunchigliani both wanted to drop the option that offered once-a-week collection of solid waste because it was so unpopular with the public.

But Commissioners Rory Reid and Chip Maxfield thought it should remain in the pilot program so that information could be gathered on it, as the committee had recommended.

Testing all three options earned support in a 4-2 commission vote, with Collins and Giunchigliani voting no. Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury was absent.

Commissioners charged Clark County staff with forming a plan for testing the three trash collection options.

Chief Administrative Officer Don Burnette said that staff would take between 30 and 60 days to complete the plan.

The pilot programs are to take place in volunteer neighborhoods and homeowner associations. Commissioners urged staff to include apartment dwellings and condominium complexes.

No cost will be incurred by pilot program participants. The new containers needed for solid waste and recycling will be provided to residents free of charge.

Republic Services Inc., which contracts with Clark County for trash collection, has agreed to participate in the pilot programs at no charge. In the pilot program, Republic Services will be using a new collection truck with a mechanical arm that empties the receptacles. The truck already is being used for collections at Nellis Air Force Base.

"We committed to the county to do whatever is necessary to help them with the pilot programs," said Republic Services Area President Bob Coyle.

The program is all baby steps at this point, Coyle said. It will provide the information needed to the county on what residents like and what works.

Commissioners said that the franchise contract with Republic will not need to be reopened at this point.