Layton would like trash haulers to form a co-op. They would split up the city, all charging the same price and providing the same service including recycling. "When they instituted the plan in Tulsa, no one lost business. They kept the same number of house holds," Layton said.
"It's a lot more fair of a process for the local haulers, Lies said. He's also the president of the Independent Trash Hauler Association. He says the main obstacle will be lowering prices. "It's going to take some work, but you can get it done."
He says the reason trash rates are so high is because of tipping fees at the transfer station. All haulers have to take trash to one of two in the area. Lies says he pays $55 a ton. He says if the tipping fee was lower, customers would pay less.
Layton says he thinks they can come up with a more competitive structure for the transfer station in order to drive prices down. But he still needs to meet with Waste Management and Waste Connections about who operate the transfer stations. He wants to discuss tipping fees and their thoughts on starting a co-op.
The city is still in the early stages of changing trash service. Layton says he'd like to have a recommendation to the city council early next year. He proposed $1 million in revenue next year by charging hauler's franchise fees. Layton says that still needs to be discussed and worked out as well.
