Dewey exploring ways to alleviate trash problems

Lingering bags of trash and unrecycled recyclables in town rights of way, garbage truck logjams on dead-end streets, and puddles of trash juice are some of the reasons why Dewey Beach officials are exploring a town trash service.

Dewey Beach Mayor Diane Hanson said Nov. 24 the town is looking into requiring residential rentals to participate in the program. She said single-family homes that don’t rent and condominiums might have the option to join but will not be required at this point; commercial businesses will continue to provide their own services.

The problems are mainly with rentals, the mayor said.

The town’s contract for trash pickup for bins along Route 1, Route 1A and beach entrances expires this spring, and, said Hanson, a request for proposals to pick up those bins and residential rentals was released Nov. 24. The proposals are due back by Jan. 4, she said.

Dewey Beach Town Manager Marc Appelbaum said Nov. 20 the town is not allowed introduce a new tax to pay for the service, but the cost could be added to the residential rental license application fee.

It would be a single fee, he said.

The request for proposals comes on the heels of two town-sponsored public meetings, Oct. 17 and Nov. 14, on the issue.

During the well-attended Nov. 14 meeting, a number of concerns were raised by property owners including unnecessary wear and tear on driveway entrances from all the trucks, getting recycling picked up weekly and how prices might go up for property owners who don’t rent and choose not to opt in.

Appelbaum said the town has an obligation to consider whether it could do the same job at a cheaper price or a better job at a slightly more expensive price.

It’s all about what kind of service the property owners want, he said. "For some people, price is going to be the only factor,” he said.

This isn’t first time Dewey officials have attempted to clean up the town’s trash problem. Two years ago, the town adopted an ordinance for residential neighborhoods that said trash pickup was allowed on Fridays and Mondays only, that a copy of the trash pickup contract needed to be attached to the residential rental license, that trash needed to be in rigid containers, and that trash bins can only be in the town’s right of way the night before pickup.

Appelbaum said on any given weekend morning during the summer he could write 300 tickets for various code violations. He if there are that many violations, the problem is with the program.

Appelbaum said trash being left in town rights of way is a significant issue; property owners prefer some sort of valet service for their trash bins – front yard to sidewalk and back. He said he thinks the town can provide the service cheaper than trash companies currently offer.

Among the issues to be resolved, said Appelbaum, is whether the town should buy the trash bins. He said it might make sense for the town to buy the bins because the bins may have a longer life expectancy than the contract.

Hanson said town officials will look at proposals submitted by the trash companies Jan. 4 and hopefully make a decision at the Jan. 9 council meeting. She said she would like to see the decision made as soon as possible to give property owners time to adjust before the rental season begins.

Hanson said the town is also considering providing large dumpsters at town hall a few times a year for yard waste and large trash items.