A study of Charleston’s recycling program recommends standardized carts be given to residents for people to place recyclables in that could be collected with a hydraulic tipper and to avoid using bags. The study by MSW Consultants also suggested that the city do a full cost of service and rate study for its entire waste management system.
Consultants said this would identify the full cost of current services, come up with an appropriate rate structure for basic services and offer “premium services at an incremental charge to those customers who need more than basic service.”
They said the city provides excellent service to its residents with city crews removing “virtually any materials from the curb that are set out.” Collection crews routinely load piles of bagged materials, multiple containers, multiple bulky items, loose brush and yard waste materials.
“The lack of reasonable set-out limits undermines the city’s ability to provided a fair, standard basic service,” the consultants said. “Studies in other communities with no set-out limits have shown that 20 to 30 percent of the residential customers over-use the service, which means that the remaining 70 to 80 percent of customers are subsidizing the system.”
The study recommended the city rebalance collection routes, standardize set-out limits for basic service and establish additional fees for residents who require additional services.