2010 News Archive 

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Council revises solid waste ordinance to lower waste-stream to landfills

To comply with a state mandate to reduce waste going into landfills, the Johns Creek City Council on Nov. 8 voted to establish minimal levels of solid waste and recycling service citywide.

The Council tabled a proposal to impose an Environmental Management Fee, choosing instead to pay for various environmental initiatives from existing funds.

In 1990 the state of Georgia mandated that municipalities prepare and adopt a 10-year Solid Waste Plan to reduce waste to landfills. Johns Creek adopted a plan in 2008 that pledged to reduce its waste stream by 10 percent – a reduction of about 220 pounds per person per year.

Failure to comply with the Solid Waste Plan jeopardizes the City's eligibility for grants, loans and other aid issued by Georgia and the federal government.

But Johns Creek hasn't had a good way to measure its compliance with state law. Few of the estimated 25 to 30 waste haulers believed to be operating in the City were registered with the Public Works Department, or provided information about how much they were taking to landfills or recycling. Consequently, the City lacked data to see if it is meeting its commitment.

Standardizing minimal levels of service allows the City to better calculate the amount of trash going to landfills, and in many cases ensures better services to the public.

Currently, some haulers pick up yard trash; some don't. Some pick up large, bulky items; some don't. Some pick up once a week; some twice a week. Some offer recycling; some don't.

An analysis by the City showed 27 Johns Creek subdivisions are each served by four separate trash haulers. One neighborhood has six haulers. Prices range from $11 per month to $27 per month.

Here are the highlights of the ordinance:

• Citizens are free to choose any registered hauler, and negotiate their own contract. They may opt to contract for better service than the minimum requirement.
• It limits collection between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to keep the trucks from disturbing other residents.
• It requires at least once-a-week hauling.
• Lids on trash containers are required to prevent animals from getting in, and to keep litter from scattering.
• Under the ordinance haulers will provide each customer with standard-sized containers of about 90 gallons and smaller-sized recycling containers.
• Haulers must register, have city decals on their trucks, and report quarterly how much they haul.
• Rates charged by haulers will be published on the Solid Waste page so that customers can better negotiate their monthly fee.
• Environmental programs that could be funded through the General Fund include Keep Johns Creek Beautiful, recycling at parks, and environmental education in schools.

What the ordinance does NOT do:

• It does not require individual participation in recycling programs.
• It does not establish zones and days of pick up.
• It does not establish a fee.
• It does not restrict who a citizen chooses for service as long as the hauler is registered.
• It does not restrict who can register as a hauler.