Martinsville once again eyeing cost of trash disposal, hauling

The City of Martinsville is talking trash.

Not the verbal type of trash, but the trash created every day.

The city administration held a workshop last week for city council members and other officials at Martinsville's waste transfer station on Rose Street.

Mayor Kenny Costin and city superintendent Mac Dunn told council members the city is going to have to make some big decisions when it comes to disposal of its trash.

City uses private company after incinerator is shuttered

Martinsville has always picked up and disposed of its resident's trash, paid for using property taxes. The city does not pick up trash from businesses.

In some communities, residents pay a private service for trash removal.

The building that is now the waste transfer station used to have a high capacity incinerator that burned the trash. The incinerator was so efficient, it exceeded, at the time it was in operation, all regulations on emissions.

Due to some conflicts with state officials and the fact the incinerator caught fire and was heavily damaged, it was shut down.

The city then began having the trash hauled to landfills for disposal.

The city has used several companies for this. The most recent company was Ray's Trash Service.

Waste Management takes over Ray's Trash Service

Earlier this year, Ray's Trash Service was sold to Waste Management. That change of ownership has caused concerns with city leaders on the future of the city's trash disposal.

Service changes: Director reports problems with Waste Management takeover of Morgan County recycling pickup

Martinsville City Superintendent Mac Dunn said the current contract the city had with Rays is being honored by the new company. He said the contract is up early next year. What is concerning, he said, is the company may ask for a large increas to continue hauling the city's trash.

Current costs to Martinsville

Right now, it costs the city $55 per ton to have Waste Management haul the trash to a landfill. That does not include the cost to have it picked up by city crews, taken to the transfer station, then loaded into 53-foot long dump trailers.

The city currently has five sanitation employees paid out of the sanitation budget. Other city employees will step in to help pick up trash when needed, and it is costly.

The city collects a $7.50 fee on water/sewer bills which helps pay for trash removal.

Dunn said that amount should be around $16 per month which would help the city break even on trash costs.

The council has previously declined to raise the fee.

More: Martinsville City Council rejects proposal to raise trash pickup fee

Costin said the city must use money in the general fund to make up for the shortfall, totalling between $40,000 and $45,000 a month.

Costin said with the possibility of a cost increase next year, the city needs to look at all its options.

Privatization is not an option, Costin said.

He said the city will look at three options: stay with Waste Management no matter the cost, look for another business to haul the trash away, or do the hauling itself.

How much would it cost Martinsville to haul its own trash?

Dunn said the first two options will be looked at next year.

The idea the city hauls the trash, he said, should also be considered.

He said there are going to be costs no matter what the city does.

First, the trash compactor is around 22 or 23 years old and needs to be replaced, which will cost around $70,000.

Next, the transfer station needs major repairs. The cement floor is breaking up. The building, which has caught fire at least twice, needs roof and siding work, plus a new garage door, estimated to cost in excess of $114,000. Dunn said the city needs a building to house their trash trucks and keep them out of the weather. That is estimated to cost $350,000.

Dunn said those are the expenses the city will have no matter what.

Many purchases necessary to do own hauling

Dunn said if Martinsville opts to haul the trash, the city will have to purchase three 53-foot open top trailers at a cost of around $100,000 each. It would also need two trucks, one for transporting the trash away and the second to move trailers around at the transfer station. Those would cost around $220,000.

A new bobcat dozer, which is used to push trash around, would replace the old one, which is nearly 20 years old and cost around $75,000.

As for the trash's final destination, Dunn said it's either the incinerator in Indianapolis or one of several landfills around central Indiana.

Dunn said he plans to get estimates of charges for the incinerator and other landfills to give the council a financial picture of the total.

Council will need to consider updating ordinance

According to Dunn, last year, the city disposed of 10,000 tons of trash. That trash came from the city pickup crews, private citizens, and private hauling business.

The city charges $40 for the first 1,000 pounds, then $60 per ton after that for trash disposal. Residents can dispose of up to five bags of trash for $20.

Costin said he wants the city to continue picking up "bulk" trash, such as sofas, washing machines, dryers, and other large items on a weekly basis. He said if the city does not pick up those items, they will be dumped somewhere. (During the county drainage board meeting, county surveyor Terry Brock said people continue to dump items into Sartor Ditch. The county then has to pay someone to remove them,)

Currently, the city picks up residential trash only at family homes. The city will pick up trash at duplexes, but not at multifamily properties. Those properties are considered a "business" and the city does not pick up business trash.

Costin said the problem the city is when landlords clean out their rentals and place the trash out for the city to pick up, usually resulting in a massive pile. The same problem holds for duplexes when the landlord clears them out and puts the trash on the sidewalk.

Dunn said there are some items the city will not knowingly pick up, such as hazardous waste.

Costin said the city council needs to review the trash ordinance and possibly make changes to it.

Dunn said he hopes to have a better financial picture for council members to consider later this year.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Martinsville eyes disposal costs after sale of Ray's Trash Service