Oconto Falls to implement garbage pickup change

Oconto Falls officials are preparing a mailer to go to city residents explaining the upcoming changes in garbage and recycling pickup.

The city held an informational session Oct. 11 to provide details and receive comments on the change being implemented by GFL Environmental Inc., the city’s contractor.

City Administrator Peter Wills explained that GFL is moving to automated pickup starting Nov. 7, in part because of the sparse labor market and in part to save money on labor. Instead of a two-person crew, the pickup can be achieved with trucks equipped to lift and empty large standardized bins.

The Town of Oconto Falls made the switch earlier this year with few issues reported, he said.

Every property is assigned a 96-gallon bin, and each has an identification number on the back that corresponds to the property, Wills said.

“So if you leave or move out, the garbage bin remains with the property,” Wills said.

Garbage pickup will still occur weekly, and recycling will be collected every other week, with state Highway 22 serving as the dividing line for which half of the city is being recycled, he said.

GFL has also waived the $300,000 cost of buying bins for all the properties in the city; if the bin is damaged, the property owner will have to work out the replacement cost with GFL, Wills said.

Belinda Chou was one of a handful of residents who attended the informational session, saying the 96-gallon bin is much larger than she needs.

“I’m not a high user of trash; I could fill that maybe in a month,” Chou said.

She had concerns about getting the wheeled bin to curb in icy conditions and said the large bin could encourage some people to increase their waste. She also asked if households that don’t generate much garbage should be assessed a lower price.

Wills said in a previous community where he worked and the city was charged by weight, they didn’t see an increase in residential tonnage when the larger bins were introduced.

“We are charged one cost for the entire city for those who are picked up,” he said. “It’s not based on weight or quantity, whether we give you 10-gallon bins or 96-gallon bins. It’s based on what we’re being charged by GFL.”

GFL will drop off the new bins before the Nov. 7 effective date. The garbage bags used under the old system can be placed in the bins until they’re used up, and the city is selling its inventory at reduced prices.

For information, residents can call the city administrator’s office at 920-846-4505.