Century Talks Trash, Approves New Allied Waste Contract

November 23, 2010

The Century Town Council talked trash Monday — renewing a contract with Allied Waste that will not raise residential garbage rates for the next three years.

Century’s 700 residential customers will continue to pay $15.04 per month for trash collection. Allied will continue to pick up household waste on Wednesday, but Allied will no longer collect yard waste and items like discarded furniture. The Town of Century will collect those items on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

The town will save $3.58 per customer per month by self-collecting yard waste, or about $30,000 per year.

Under the new three year deal, which goes into effect December 1, Century will also receive a $400 per month — $4,800 per year — discount on dumpsters at city facilities, and trash at the town hall will be collected at no charge.

The bottom line for residential customers, according to Mayor Freddie McCall, is that service will remain the same for Century’s residential household waste customers.

In addition, most of Century’s 35 business trash customers will see a five percent decrease in their monthly bills, according to Seren Ainsworth, municipal services manager for Allied Waste.

“Have we seriously thought about having our own (trash pickup) before we go elsewhere?” asked Sandra McMurray Jackson, who will take her seat on the Century council in January.

“We can’t pick it up for what they (Alllied Waste) contract it for,” McCall responded. The mayor said it would be impossible for the town to get into the household waste business for less money that is paid Allied Waste. McCall also said he had spoken to the Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA), which provides residential waste service in most of Escambia County. “They couldn’t touch the rate,” he said.

Century’s three-year renewal of their Allied Waste contract was approved 2-1 at a special meeting Monday. Councilman Henry Hawkins voted against the contract renewal, while council members Ann Brooks and Nadine McCaw were absent.

Comments

5 Responses to “Century Talks Trash, Approves New Allied Waste Contract”

  1. Clinton Curly Brooks on November 23rd, 2010 10:50 pm

    Will the dumpsters stil be at the old
    court House?

  2. Ann Brooks on November 23rd, 2010 7:53 am

    Three out of five council members must be present to have a quorum. If there is a quorum present, a majority vote of those present is sufficient to approve a motion.

  3. bill w on November 23rd, 2010 7:52 am

    Notice Ecua ” couldn’t touch the rates ” . Aren’t we in the North county all fortunate that Ecua first disenfranchised Allied Waste then took over our trash collection. Thank you Larry Walker.

  4. Oversight on November 23rd, 2010 6:07 am

    Hawkins voted against the contract – no surprise here is there? When the council takes up the charter for moving the election to a responsible date to coincide with general elections so the town doesn’t have to put out more money to hold elections outside of the norm, maybe they’ll also change the effective date that new council members are sworn-in too. New members elected to office should be installed into office the first meeting following the election, so the town can quickly toss out the trash.

  5. Century girl on November 23rd, 2010 1:43 am

    Just wondering…How many members does it take for a quorum?