Recycling Collection Program Summary:
Status as of August 2017: The Village Board of Whitefish Bay recently took action to authorize the implementation of every other week collection of recyclables to begin in spring of 2018. The recycling cart is a 95-gallon, wheeled cart that was provided free of charge to every household in the Village.
Trash Collection Program Review:
The Village Board is in the process of reviewing the Trash Collection Program and is considering moving to an automated system. Automated collection involves the use of a truck equipped with an automated arm, which allows the operator to empty trash carts and then return carts to their original position without leaving the cab of the vehicle (under normal circumstances).
The Village Board has scheduled a Public Hearing to solicit feedback from residents about the potential change to an automated collection system. The Public Hearing will begin at 7:00pm on Monday, September 11th in the Village Board Room (2nd Floor) at Whitefish Bay Village Hall. Alternately, residents may submit written feedback via email to Communications Specialist Jenny Heyden by clicking here
Quick Facts - Potential Automated Trash Collection Program
1. Each household would receive a free trash collection cart from the Village. This cart would be identical in size and shape to the recycling cart previously provided.
2. Weekly collection would take place on the same day that households currently receive pick-up. Households would be responsible for bringing the trash cart to the curb (within 10 feet) or to the alley edge.
Why is the Village Board Considering a Change to Trash Collection?
1. Cost Savings: The conversion to an automated trash collection system would reduce Village annual trash collection operation and maintenance costs by an estimated $105,585 per year.
2. Environmental/Aesthetic Benefits: The use of uniform, covered trash carts helps to prevent littering due to blowing of uncovered trash items.
3. Improved safety for Village employees: Currently each Village trash collector lifts between 6,000 and 9,000 pounds of garbage and walks between 10 to 12 miles per day (in all weather conditions) pushing a collection cart up and down driveways, sidewalks and streets. As a result, Village collectors have sustained shoulder, arm, hand, back and knee injuries.
In addition, sharps disposed of in trash bags and cans without proper containers also pose a puncture risk as the Village trash collectors perform their duties. Chemical containers have also been found to be hidden in trash bags. These can break open when the collection truck hopper is compacted, resulting in Village trash collectors being exposed to the disbursement of chemicals and/or fumes.
Please click here to view a video of an automated-arm trash truck in action.
Timetable
If approved, conversion to an automated trash collection system would occur in Spring of 2018 (to correspond with the already approved change to the Recycling Collection Program).