ELYRIA — Those automated garbage trucks that empty trash and recycling cans could be coming to 16,500 households in Elyria soon.

The proposed new refuse program would save a projected $254,075 a year, according to James Skora, a consultant with GT Environmental who conducted a study on the city’s behalf.

Instead of the current garbage bags, boxes or items set out on the curb, residents would be required to put their trash and recyclables into bins on wheels that would be emptied automatically into trucks by mechanical arms.

The number of people required to operate trash pickups would drop from 23 employees including supervisors to 15 including supervisors.

Each truck would have one employee handling pickup for 825 households versus a crew of refuse or recycling workers handling 550 homes a day, he said.

This is a good time to consider the program because of the age of the city’s fleet of garbage trucks, Skora said. Some date from 1992 or 1993, he said.

It would cost nearly $3.9 million to set up the automated trash program, Skora said. He said the cash-strapped city could pay for the new equipment — and still save the $254,075 a year — by issuing 10-year bonds to be paid back through refuse fees.

If the city decides to proceed with the program by Dec. 31, $300,000 is available through the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District’s Policy Committee, said Mayor Bill Grace, who is backing the program.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

Follow The Chronicle on Twitter at Twitter.com/YourChronicle and become a fan on Facebook to get updates on stories like this and more!

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---