Automated garbage collection coming to Placerville

Automated garbage collection will come to Placerville this summer, with separate wheeled carts for household trash, yard waste and recyclable items.

Although the system was introduced in recent years in the surrounding unincorporated area, City Manager John Driscoll said there had been concern that it might not work on some of Placerville's steep, narrow streets.

But a pilot program in the most challenging neighborhoods proved successful. Driscoll said he received only one complaint, and residents elsewhere in the city have been asking when the three-cart system would come to their neighborhoods.

If all proceeds as planned, the automated system will go citywide by July 1, Sue Farris of El Dorado Disposal told the City Council Tuesday.

The majority of residential customers, who use 32-gallon cans for household trash, will see their monthly rate increase from $15.56 to $17.37. Rates for 64-gallon containers will increase from $24.48 to $27.02. Those using a 96-gallon container will see a slight decrease, from $33.39 to $32.42.

Driscoll said the rate increases, which include adjustments for inflation and a fuel surcharge, are necessary to offset the approximately $500,000 cost of converting to the new system, including the wheeled containers and purchase of a smaller truck to serve some of the city's more difficult areas.

To avoid a steeper rate increase, the city agreed to add 10 years to El Dorado Disposal's contract, extending it to 2023. Driscoll stressed that extending the franchise agreement is intended only to amortize costs of the automated system. It has nothing to do with a request by

Waste Connections Inc., El Dorado Disposal's parent company, to extend the term of its franchise agreement with El Dorado County to offset costs of relocating the company's recycling center, he said.

The proposal to move the recycling center to a site on Industrial Drive in the Diamond Springs area has drawn strong opposition from area residents.

Placerville's agreement also provides a four-year rate structure that gives the city an opportunity to institute mandatory garbage collection. If a mandatory program is not established, rates will gradually rise over that period, Driscoll said.

Residents who spoke during Tuesday's council meeting generally supported the move to automation and a three-cart system.

"I'm just beyond thrilled," said Denise Wessels. "This is going to be really, really good for all of us."

Joan Cook said the program sounded good, but her household trash fits in a 12-gallon bag. She asked why she should have to pay for a 32-gallon cart.

"It's a good program, but I won't be using it," Cook said, adding that she would like to see options for smaller containers.

Mayor Carl Hagen said senior citizens, who often have less trash, are eligible for a 10 percent discount in their rates.

Some people also worried about maneuvering the carts up and down steep driveways, and whether the collection trucks, with automated "arms", would be able to function on their streets.

Farris said anyone who currently receives service could be served with the automated system.