Changes are coming to the way Brookshire’s garbage is collected following city council approval of a new automated pickup system.
During Thursday’s meeting, council members approved a proposal from Republic Waste Management, the city’s solid waste provider, to switch to the automated system using 95-gallon roll-out carts to streamline collection.
The carts are also expected to improve the city’s appearance by eliminating garbage cans and bags left at curbside. Additionally, the carts water- and animal-proof.
Republic Waste Management representative David Aguilar said his company would provide every residential waste customer with one of the roll-out carts, which can be collected by an automated system operated by the waste truck driver.
In changing to the new system, Republic also proposed the weekly collection day from Wednesday to Friday. That part of the proposal raised a mild objection from some council members who said they preferred the collection continue on Wednesdays.
“We’d prefer to keep it Wednesday,” Council Member Marilyn Vaughn told Aguilar.
“We can work with that,” Aguilar responded. “We can do Wednesday.”
In addition to regular collection, Republic would offer heavy trash collection two days per month. The heavy trash would be anything that could not otherwise fit into the carts.
Aguilar said every customer would be sent a letter outlining the new system and what types of items could not be put into the rolling containers.
Customers who need more than one container could get a second one for $7 per month; however, Aguilar said very few residential customers need more than one.
Persons who are handicapped or otherwise physically unable to roll the cart to the curb could notify the city and Republic would instruct the driver to roll the cart to the truck for them.
In converting to the new system, the cost of residential collection will increase from the current $9.02 per month to $10.25 per month.
Council voted unanimously to accept Republic’s proposal with the understanding the company would work with the city to retain Wednesday collection.
An exact date to transition to the new system has not yet been determined, but will most probably occur in mid-February or early March.
Residents will be notified of the change in advance.
