Broken Arrow Proposes Changes In Trash Collection

The city of Broken Arrow has scheduled a series of meetings this and next month over proposed changes to the city's trash collection services.

The first of the five meetings is Monday, April 16, 2012 at the Heritage United Methodist Church in the 5300 block of East Kenosha.

That meeting would be for city council ward 1 residents.

Back in December 2011, the city council directed Broken Arrow city staff to recommend a plan to provide for a change in refuse service to once a week volume-based service.

The staff came back with a plan which would be once a week pickup, with rates depending size of the container and number of containers.

• $15.50 - 96 gallon
• $12.00 - 64 gallon
• $9.00 - 32 gallon
• $6.50 - Additional Cart

City issued trash bags would be eliminated and there would be no separate yard waste collection. Instead the city of Broken Arrow would provide a green waste site for residents to use.  And the city would provide the container and the cart.

"I really depend on the trash bags," Broken Arrow resident Ron Salzman said. "I mean they're a great deal personally."

City leaders admit the trash bag handout is very popular and they expect some backlash.

"We also have to look at what's the best use of taxpayers' dollars," said Stephanie Higgins with the City of Broken Arrow:  "Is it paying $300,000 for trash bags? Or is it going to another system where, in turn, it can save us money as well as our residents."

The city emphasizes this is just a proposal right now, nothing is finalized. But if it does happen the city says it'll cost the city about $2.2-million to pay for the conversion.

The residents we talked with aren't so sure of the potential changes.

"I kind of like just having the bags because they just pick them up and take them away and you don't have to worry about anything," said Broken Arrow resident Juanita Blaine.

"Once you get older, though, things start getting heavier too," Salzman said.

City leaders say they haven't determined just yet how much money the new plan would save, but they say it's important to take a fresh look to see if they can find places where the city can reduce its budget.

All of the meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. The other meetings will be as follows:

• Ward 2 - April 30, 2012 - Liberty Church, 7777 South Garnett Road
• Ward 3 - May 8, 2012 - South Broken Arrow Library, 3600 South Chestnut Avenue
• Ward 4 - May 14, 2012 - Indian Springs Baptist Church, 7815 S. Elm Place
• At Large - May 21, 2012 - Central on Main, 210 North Main Street

The view the proposed trash collection plan, visit www.brokenarrowok.gov.