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<br /> Comprehensive Review of <br /> S olid W aste Collection and Disposal Options <br /> <br />v2.1 ES-5 10/22/12 <br />calendar. The routing and technology study recommended above would address <br />optimization of the commercial collection routes. <br />- Consider allowing commercial waste collection crews to begin waste collection as <br />early as 4:30 a.m. to facilitate completing collection prior to heavy traffic times in <br />commercial areas. <br />- Consider the purchase and use of solar-powered trash compactors dispatched to <br />public areas for use by the general public (e.g., street cans). These units can hold <br />about five times the amount of a normal trash receptacle, thus reducing the <br />servicing frequency of the containers. However, the units are relatively expensive <br />($3,700). The design of the units would also need to be reviewed by the Town’s <br />Planning Department to assure consistency with streetscape architectural <br />standards. <br />- Consider changes in the management of the two commercial compactors owned <br />and operated by the Town in the commercial district. The Town should consider <br />changing the locks for the waste compactors and reassessing users of the waste <br />compactors to confirm that all users are being properly charged. The new <br />inventory and registration process should include education through brochures or <br />a flyer about the operation of the waste compactors as is the current practice. <br />Additionally, the Town should install signage in both English and Spanish on the <br />operation of the waste compactors. The Town should also consider using <br />technology that limits usage, records frequency of compactor usage by businesses, <br />and offers data retrieval for billings. These types of systems store information on <br />usage by businesses that can be downloaded periodically by the Town. <br /> Outsourcing. SCS does not recommend the Town pursue outsourcing its residential <br />collection program at this time. Outsourcing of collection services is a feasible <br />alternative, and used by Communities throughout North Carolina and elsewhere; <br />however, SCS did not identify significant operational, cost, or service benefits that <br />would result to the Town through outsourcing the collection services. The collection <br />services the Town currently provides are similar to other communities and the cost of <br />service is within expected cost ranges. Self-performing these services provides the <br />Town maximum flexibility to respond to the needs of the community. The Town <br />currently provides a high level of service to its citizens through its residential <br />curbside, yard waste, bulky waste, and commercial collection programs, as well as the <br />various special provisions it makes to handle special collection situations. <br />Outsourcing this function would likely result in diminished levels of services due to <br />the nature of contracted services (i.e., contractors do what the contract says and ask <br />for change orders for variations). <br /> Disposal Options. SCS’s evaluation and analysis of identified disposal options <br />resulted in both short term and long term recommendations for the solid waste <br />program as follows: