Trash routes are changing in Columbia beginning Monday.
After lengthy discussions with Waste Pro during the Nov. 20 meeting and in a special meeting Tuesday, the Columbia Board of Aldermen accepted a proposal that will split the garbage collection into four days of routes running Monday through Thursday.
The changes coincide with Marion County’s takeover of its routes after the purchase of three new garbage trucks and the cancellation of its contract with Waste Pro.
Letters to residents as well as phone calls began Wednesday to inform city residents of the changes.
Last week, Chris Lockwood, the division manager of Waste Pro’s Hattiesburg facility, came to the board with a proposal that at first did not sit well with the board. On Tuesday, he brought revisions to the proposal, and the board voted 4-1 to approve the changes in routing. Aldermen Mike Smith, Jason Stringer, Anna Evans and Wendell Hammond were in favor, and Alderman Edward Hough was opposed.
“I know we discussed why we couldn’t do Monday through Thursday, but really it is not going to be as burdensome to do that as it would be to do it one or two days per week,” Lockwood said. “I really thought about it, and it would reduce the limitation of change and also during the holidays, it would have some benefit to us where we would not be working many Saturdays.”
Lockwood said the days for the routes could be interchangeable, but suggested days for each of the routes with a map. The plans show the center of Columbia north of Broad Street from approximately Park Avenue to Main Street being collected Monday, North Columbia and Popetown areas being collected Tuesday, areas east of Park Avenue and north of Broad Street (Keys Hill, Sumrall Road, etc.) being collected on Wednesday and city areas south of Broad Street to U.S. 98 being collected on Thursday.
Lockwood said that with the concentration of small businesses and businesses made Monday the logical choice for that route.
Ward 4 Alderman Mike Smith said he had been approached by several residents about the changes.
“Everybody I talked to didn’t see it as being a big problem,” he said. “If it is picked up the same time every week, these folks didn’t see any problem.”
Ward 2 Alderman Jason Stringer said he had heard the same type comments from his constituents. The work will be done by one truck, one driver and one hopper.
Pictured Above: Chris Lockwood of Waste Pro discusses the trash pickup in the city with the Columbia Board of Aldermen in a special meeting Tuesday. Changes in pickup days begin Monday across the city. | Photo by Mark Rogers
