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ARC announces pricing plan for trash pick up in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Genesee ARC told WBTA today what the agency plans to charge local residents for garbage pick up starting June 1, when the city will stop providing taxpayer-subsidized garbage collection.

Traditional curbside service is $21.95/mo, self-directed bag service is 10 bags for $30 and drop-off service at the West Main site is 10 cents per pound.

No word yet on how to sign up for the service.

WBTA reports that an ARC representative said the price levels will help the agency remain solvent and continue its programs and mission.

For 28 years, Genesee ARC had an exclusive contract with the City of Batavia for curbside trash and recycling collection, but all of that changed when the city decided to take measures to get the cost of trash collection out of property tax bills.

After a public protest over a proposed automated system using totes with a contract for garbage collection going to an Arizona-based company, the council voted to get the city out of the trash business completely.

Starting June 1, property owners will be responsible for contracting with a priviate hauler or taking their garbage to a transfer station. Other contractors planning to service the city are Gardner Disposal, PSI Disposal and Waste Management, as well as transfer stations Scofield Transfer and Recycling and Town of Batavia.

Here's a list of contractors and phone numbers provided by the city in a letter to residents:

Gardner Disposal: (585) 343-4626
Genesee ARC: (585) 343-1123 or 585-343-4203
PSI Disposal, Inc.: (585) 599-3255
Waste Management, Inc.: (800) 333-6590

Transfer stations to drop off refuse, recycling and bulk items:

Scofield Transfer and Recycling: (585) 343-7373
Town of Batavia Transfer Station: (585) 343-1729

Thomas Mooney

I don't think the self-directed 10 bag pick-up is good for the city . Obviously it a cheaper way to go , so people will choose that option . So we will have a bunch of people with 10 or more bags in their yard . During the summer months with windows open and rodents on the prowl, this city will be a dump.

Apr 3, 2013, 8:36pm Permalink
SABRINA BRINKMAN

Hmm, wasn't $196 for the tote system for residents under the proposed trash system?? That was the large tote. Hope all those people are happy with their trash with ARC. It comes out to $263.40 a year and that is if they do not go over the trash limit. They certainly are paying quite a bit more than what was proposed. I say they because not everyone will go with ARC. So once they figure out who actually will sign up with them and weed everything out, this price will change.

Apr 3, 2013, 9:43pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

I agree Sabrina, I need to see the fine print on this one myself, I am already pre-disposed to go with a Tote system simply for aesthetics if not for anything else, but what about large items? How many bags or cans will the $21.95 cover and what if you go over.

Regardless, there is no way that I would go with purchased bags, been there done that in another life and that is simply a PITA,

Apr 3, 2013, 9:52pm Permalink
Robert Brown

Here's the tote proposal again for reference:

http://www.batavianewyork.com/documents/ProposedRefuseRecyclingProgramP…

As expected, the ARC monthly contract is high. I haven't called them yet, so I'm not really sure what "self-directed bag service" means.

A household dropping off 2 20lb. bags per month can manage trash disposal for under $50 per year. And the more you recycle the lower your trash volume/weight. Might not be a bad way to go.

Apr 4, 2013, 1:23am Permalink
tom hunt

As I have stated before: we lost the economy of scale. A retired City of Batavia home owner could have had curb side service for a fixed $100 a year. What is going to cost now...........maybe two to three times that. I think you are going to see a lot of garbage bags floating down the Tonawanda Creek.

Apr 4, 2013, 1:55am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

I would have preferred ARC, but at the price listed, no way.
10 cents a pound is hard to beat. Based on my trash output, it will cost me approx. $2 a week.
Another plus, I won't have to pick up garbage out of the street from the Arc crew missing the truck.

Apr 4, 2013, 5:37am Permalink
Andy Pedro

In the town we have always footed our own bill. I personally use Waste Management - they supply a tote and a recylce bin. In all the years I have had them they have never rejected anything I put out at the curb. Couch, carpet, chair, mattress - they take it. Also, you are not limited to just filling the tote, you can put out extra bags or an extra can. Billed $72.47 every two months.($434.82 a year)

Apr 4, 2013, 7:04am Permalink
Lori Silvernail

I never got a notice from the city about the various vendors, but I never really expected I would. The mailman on my street is without a doubt, illiterate. I get mail for the neighbor next door, as well as for ones down the street. He delivers to my niece's street and does the same thing there. The lovely neighbors up wind from me are jerks who wouldn't bring it to me anyway.

I'm disappointed in the pricing the Arc has come up with. And why aren't they being more forthcoming about the details, such as the cost for large items? Are they going to have the $5 and $10 stickers as before? I am going to use bags, no matter who I choose. But the Arc better get their act together, because if another vendor allows bags and has free pick up of large items... there goes my loyalty

Apr 4, 2013, 8:58am Permalink
Linda Knox

After receiving my letter I did a little homework. While I'm not opposed to using ARC clearly more information needs to be available. I'm not endorsing a vendor by any means, but the other local contact, Gardener, is clearly the front runner for me. Numbers I was given is $20/month for 5 large bags or 7 small bags, includes recycled items, and they will take a larger item i.e. furniture/applicance at no cost with advance notice. There were so many additonal fees for the larger, non-local providers. But as I stated I still have time to decide and weigh options when ARC is forthcoming with more clearly defined information.

Apr 4, 2013, 10:19am Permalink
John Roach

ARC will send you detailed information if you call and ask them to. Actually, they will be very competitive.

Mark, that recycling committee is really just a part of the City Youth Services, not an official city committee. There function is educational.
The City has no role in recycling other than encouraging people to do so.

Apr 4, 2013, 10:49am Permalink
Phil Ricci

So here are some facts about curbside service:

WM: As of right now, they only have one pricing plan and program. $24 per month, you provide your own can. You get 2 yards, or 13 bags of trash per week, recycling included as well as Green Trash (leaves etc. up to 1 yard, or 6 bags). Bulk items are additional depending on size, like the city.

ARC: Above pricing of $21.95, includes current 5 bags per week, recycling and bulk items (once per month no additional charge!)

Gardner Disposal: Nice young guy, who just started this business! $20 per month, billed every other month, up to 7 bags, recycling included. Bulk items will be priced like the city's current plan, and call in advance.

PSI is $25.50 per month, billed every other month. Includes 6 bags per week, recycling, and 1 free bulk item (washer, hot water tank, etc.) but must must be called in 48 hours in advance.

Apr 4, 2013, 1:52pm Permalink
SABRINA BRINKMAN

Deb, that is your choice. Now we all have a choice. I'll be going with Waste Management. We have 3 kids and have a lot of trash. Seeing that I do the procurement process everyday, I am not happy with how ARC handled their bidding process. For me, the best value is waste management. Plus, I have written a lot of contracts with them through my job in the past and never had an issue with them. Can't say the same with ARC. Cans in the driveway and street, trash all over the road and yard. They don't pick up everything. Got to complacent on a contract they were a priority on. In addition, I had a very nasty run in with them when I called to complain a couple of years ago with the guy that runs the crew. I was not impressed. I am all about keeping jobs too. I am also about making sure the playing field is fair. Competition is good.

Apr 4, 2013, 8:27pm Permalink

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