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Rehoboth looks to get out of commercial trash business

Residents in commercial areas will continue city service
February 19, 2017

The Rehoboth Beach commissioners are planning to stop providing commercial trash service by the end of this year.

City Manager Sharon Lynn told the commissioners Feb. 6 that Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control plans to start cracking down on commingled of recyclables and trash. The city does not provide commercial recycling service, which has generally been handled by the state, but, Lynn said, Delaware Solid Waste Authority is trying to get out of recycling.

The city loses $8,900 per year on commercial trash pickup, according to city secretary Sharon Sherwood. Lynn asked the commissioners whether they wanted to continue commercial trash service or discontinue it.

Commissioner Stan Mills said given DNREC’s vow to crackdown on commingling of trash and recyclables, the city’s only options were to provide commercial recycling or discontinue commercial trash service. The city has 97 commercial customers; Lynn said providing commercial recycling will cost the city $200,000 for a new truck alone, much less additional manpower for collection and maintaining a dump site.

“What we’ve been looking at is how those 97 customers relate to manpower costs and the time the city staff takes,” Lynn said.

Commercial trash pickup varies by the hauler, according to two local business owners in attendance at the Feb. 6 meeting. Trey Kraus of Carlton’s said his trash is picked up twice a week, while Meg Gardner of Blue Moon said the restaurant’s trash is picked up six times per week. Rehoboth’s city-operated commercial trash typically goes out four times per week. Cooper said Ocean City, Md., picks up commercial and residential trash seven days a week. Kraus said Carlton’s uses Waste Management to pick up recycling.

Another issue the commissioners needed to work out is serving 388 residential trash customers who live in commercial districts. City officials are concerned commercial trash will find its way into what should be residential pickups, particularly in places where the business owner lives above the business itself. Lynn said city staff is familiar with who gets residential pickup, and there should be no problems. The commissioners agreed that residents should have access to city trash services no matter where they live.

The commissioners agreed the city should get out of commercial trash service - although no formal vote has been taken - and proposed a plan to cease commercial trash service by Dec. 31, allowing businesses time to line up new haulers.  

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