The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday for three companies to provide solid waste-collection with optional recycling collection for all 26,000 households in Forsyth County’s unincorporated area.
The franchise period would start Jan. 1, 2019, and end Dec. 31, 2021, with the possibility of two additional two-year renewals.
The proposed franchise ordinance change will require a second reading, meaning the commissioners are expected to vote for final adoption in June.
The companies are ABC Garbage Service, North Davidson Garbage and Recycling Service, and Rural Garbage Service.
North Davidson would become a new solid waste franchise holder.
ABC Garbage and Rural Garbage currently serve other areas of the county and would see their territories expanded.
Waste Management of the Carolinas Inc. is also a current franchise owner, but was not among the three companies voted on by the commissioners Thursday.
“The ordinance will guarantee that all 26,000 households in the unincorporated area of Forsyth County will continue to have guaranteed access to optional subscription garbage collection service for years to come and everyone will pay a uniform rate for basic service, which is currently $14.57 per month for weekly collection of up to 64 gallons of volume,” Minor Barnette, the director of the county environmental office, said in an email Friday.
He said that the rates for services will stay the same for at least two years, except for possible minor adjustments to offset increases in tipping fees at the landfill and the quarterly fuel surcharge.
“The fuel surcharge has been a negative number during several recent quarters and has resulted in the adjusted rate for service being less than the base rate of $14.57,” Barnette said. “So the fuel surcharge protects subscribers when diesel prices go down and protects the haulers when diesel prices go up.”
Recycling pickup
“Perhaps the most significant positive outcome for residents in the county resulting from the proposed franchise ordinance is guaranteed access to optional recycling collection service for all 26,000 households in the unincorporated area of the county,” Barnette said.
He said that each franchise holder with assigned, protected service areas for garbage collection will be required to offer optional recycling collection to the households in their franchise areas for an optional additional fee.
“Only households who choose to take advantage of this convenient and affordable recycling collection service will be charged the fee, and everyone will have the option to participate in either or both garbage and recycling collection services,” Barnette said.
The rates for recycling collection service for the first quarter of 2019 will be $7 a month for ABC Garbage Service and Rural Garbage Service and $6 a month for North Davidson Garbage Service, for collection of up to 96 gallons of recyclables every other week.
Barnette said that the county will not regulate the recycling service “to ensure the success and sustainability of recycling collection service.”
To read the full story, visit http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/garbage-recycling-options-for-forsyth-county-residents-here-s-a/article_75864670-8afc-5aab-9266-249d56d52f2e.html.