City, county debate privatized waste pick-up

May 13, 2010

The City of Belen and Valencia County have in recent weeks been independently discussing how best to provide solid waste pick-up for their residents and businesses.

The city has mandatory curbside pick-up in Belen, with the service contracted to Waste Management Inc.

While Waste Management has the contract to provide the service, the city bills residents and businesses and provides logistical and other support to the company.

With the city’s budget deficit now at $250,000, down from $3.2 million, the mayor and city council debated as recently as last week about whether or not the city should further privatize the service.

While Waste Management and the city both receive an amount from the fee paid by residents and businesses, in the past the city has provided a city-employed solid waste specialist to help Waste Management manage the service.

The administration and council have been slightly split on the issue.

Some see a potential financial benefit to the city if the city can make the program run more efficiently, so the city makes a profit from the fees it collects.

Others think the program can be better managed by Waste Management, seeing the potential for reduced rates for Belen’s residents and businesses if a layer of the bureaucracy — the city — is removed from the service.

Valencia County is having a similar debate.

Last night, commissioners debated the merits of having a county-run mandatory curbside pick-up program.

Commissioner Pedro Rael said the county could create as many as 50 jobs should the county run a solid waste program that includes curbside pick-up.

Taking into account the current economy and layoffs, he said 50 jobs would help county residents who don’t have work.

Commissioner Ron Gentry, on the other hand, said the capital investment for things like polycarts, trucks and a staging area, would be too much for the county.

“It’s a huge business, as big as the county itself,” he said.

He also warned against the county creating “a giant Conejo,” referring to the county-operated Conejo Convenience Station.

The county will consider a solid waste ordinance at its meeting next week.

County officials said the ordinance is the final step before sending out a second request for proposal to service providers.

County Manager Eric Zamora said garbage trucks could be on county roads by early 2011 as a part of the mandatory curbside pick-up service.

Posted in: Services