TOLEDO (WTOL) - The future of trash collection in Toledo is a hot topic of debate, and city leaders will soon decide which route to take.
As Toledo City Council got a closer look at the proposal to fully automate trash service by the end of the year, one thing is certain -- the days of the manual garbage trucks are numbered.
"It should be noted, due to the age and condition of our existing manual fleet, we will need to make a major capital purchase in the very near future to perform refuse collection operations without a switch to total privatization," said Bill Franklin.
Currently before council is a plan for the city to issue nearly $22 million worth of notes for the purchase of 40 automated trucks and 200,000 refuse containers.
There's at least one council member already giving the green light.
"I like what we're doing. I think it should be city-wide," said Council Member Wilma Brown, "I think we need the equipment. I think we need to retain our city workers."
Others on council are also pleased with the automated test with 90% recycling participation in the pilot routes.
"The feedback that I've been hearing from citizens has been pretty positive because the garbage being contained in the container is less likely to spill in the streets. It's cleaner," said Council Member Joe McNamara.
Another option is for the city to buy the containers, but pay a private company to pick up the trash with an expected additional savings of $500,000 per year. Council Member Mike Collins told News 11, "I have serious questions whether or not the short term benefit of privatization really is going to be a benefit for the long term service for the citizens of Toledo."
