As soon as April, action could be taken to move toward one common waste hauler for all residents of Brandon and Groveland townships.
Resource Recycling Systems of Ann Arbor recently was awarded a bid contract to study developing a system to handle solid waste for Brandon and Groveland, as well as other north Oakland County communities including Springfield Township, Independence Township, Waterford, White Lake and West Bloomfield. The contract will be paid for by a Capital and Cooperative Initiative Revolving Fund grant.
‘The first part of the project will take about 90 days and we will look at all the communities, how much waste they generate, projections of what they would need to do to get rid of trash, what they’re creating, how much and where it could go,? said RRS Project Consultant Anna Collinson. ‘Then we’ll examine the best options, whether they should come together and form an authority, have one waste hauler for all their communities.?
Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma expects that once the study is completed, it will show that the northern communities could enjoy the same benefits enjoyed by communities that are members of SOCCRA or RRRASOC, waste consortiums in the southern and western ends of the county.
‘Using one hauler lets them have leverage for negotiating pricing,? DePalma noted. ‘There are no multiple routes, it’s better for the roads, and eliminates garbage always on the curb. I’m pretty confident that the study will conclude if we do something similar, we can save residents money. Secondly, we want to use new technologies and substantially increase recycling that gets done and handle waste streams in a more environmentally safe manner, instead of the old solution of digging another hold in the ground and making another landfill.?
In a letter DePalma sent to Groveland residents last week about the study, he noted that the township board has had numerous suggestions offered for how to use property surrounding Mt. Holly, including landfills, which he and other boardmembers oppose. He wants to put an end to the landfill approach and look at new technology.
Brandon Township boardmembers will formally vote on a resolution to be part of the study at their board meeting on Monday, said Supervisor Kathy Thurman, who favors being part of the study.
‘It could save the residents money on their waste disposal and at the same time improve our environment and also decrease wear and tear on the roads,? she said.
The impact on roads by going to one waste hauler may not be what the supervisors are anticipating, however.
Craig Bryson, public information officer for the Road Commission of Oakland County, said that while garbage trucks are heavy and there will be less damage if fewer are on the road, he doesn’t think it will make a significant difference.
‘It might have some benefit, but not a substantial benefit,? he said. ‘You won’t see a dramatic change in the condition of the roads.?
Still, says Brian Price, fewer trucks means less pollution. Price is a Hummer Lake Road resident and says six different haulers travel his road and garbage is at the curb every day except the weekend, unless it’s a holiday.
‘Why wouldn’t we want to limit the number of big heavy trucks on our roads and dumping pollution?? he asked. ‘What difference does it make who it is that picks up the garbage as long as it’s getting picked up? It sounds like a win-win situation, for the money savings, plus the impact on the environment and with the economic situation the way it is, why wouldn’t we want to save money and help the environment? I’m befuddled as to why anyone wouldn’t be in favor.?
But Kara LaVoisne, also a Brandon Township resident, doesn’t like the idea. She likes competition and having a choice in who provides her trash pick-up.
‘I like choosing a grocery store, I like being able to choose a garbage company,? she said. ‘I lived in Washington state and there was only one trash hauler in my town and they kept changing the date they picked up trash, how large your trash can could be and they were really, really specific… I’m willing to listen, but more inclined to say no.?