Bigger recycling bins coming to Lantana

Larger recycling carts will soon be rolling out to Lantana curbs.

The two Fresh Water Supply District boards recently gave the green light to a proposal from Waste Management to increase the size of recycling containers from the current 18-gallon open bin to a 64-gallon roll cart with a top. Recycling pickup would remain at once a week on Fridays.

The costs associated with rolling out the new carts will add 73 cents to customer’s bills each month, according to Waste Management spokesperson John Klaiber. In addition, the automatic two-percent annual rate increase tied to the Consumer Price Index is 27 cents this coming fiscal year, totaling a one dollar per month increase.

Klaiber said the cost of the new containers – pegged at around $50 – is a “pass through” and Waste Management would not make a profit from them, thus he requested a two-year extension of their contract with the district. The district is currently in year three of a five year agreement with the refuse hauler.

District staff had recommended that the boards accept the offer, citing the good service that Waste Management has provided, increased recycling by residents with the larger containers, less trash in the streets from overfilled bins that do not have tops on them and a favorable response to the larger cans by a majority of residents who were informally polled at the district office when they stopped by to pay their water bills during the previous two weeks.

Lantana General Manager Kevin Mercer added that many residents have requested additional bins over the years due to the increasing amount of household recycling and the small capacity of the current containers.

Klaiber said that once the rollout is complete, Waste Management would accommodate individual resident’s requests for smaller bins if the new bin is too large for their recycling needs.

The containers will be distributed in October. Residents will see the new rates reflected on their November bills.

In other business, board members approved a contract with Grapevine, TX-based Stw Inc. in the amount of $2,850 for an online water/sewer/trash bill payment option.

The new system – expected to be up and running by the end of October – will allow residents to pay their bills via credit card or bank draft and set up automatic payments. It will also have the ability to send bills and notifications out via e-mail.  In addition, a terminal will be installed at the district office that will accept credit card payments.

District controller Rich Harned said that there will be a 4-percent convenience fee to cover the district’s costs for processing credit card payments.