While city considers trash hauling changes, local hauler shares potential impacts to their business
EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - As Eau Claire considers changes to trash hauling services in the city, one local hauling company is sharing how those changes could impact them.
City staff met with residents and haulers Thursday night to discuss results of the recent trash hauling study.
As Eau Claire considers changes to trash hauling services in the city, one local hauling company is sharing how those changes could impact them.
Related: Trash hauling report outlines Eau Claire’s unique situation, higher customer costs
That study found Eau Claire residents are paying more on average for trash services than similar Wisconsin cities.
Currently there are four trash haulers operating in Eau Claire: multinational corporations Waste Management and GFL Environmental, and local businesses Trash on Trucks and Earthbound Environmental Solutions.
Eau Claire deputy city manager Dave Solberg said the city is considering some short-term changes, including allowing haulers to provide more customized pick-up options. Residents could choose to have their trash picked up every other week instead of every week.
Jamie Pappas is co-owner of Earthbound Environmental. She says that would be a cheaper option for residents and haulers, and result in less truck traffic, fuel emissions, and waste.
“We have a number of people who live in our community, veterans, people with disabilities, a lot of situations, where they benefit from having somebody come only every other week,” Pappas said.
A long term option for the city explored in the study would be to switch to a single hauler service, either for the entire city or for individual districts. The single hauler could be owned by the city or contracted out to haulers.
Pappas said that would put the smaller, locally owned haulers at a disadvantage. She said Earthbound would likely pivot to focus more on the composting services they already offer.
“We would definitely need to shift gears if that is the way the city decides to go,” she said. “I do think we’re poised well because of the service that we provide in terms of food waste recycling.”
No changes have been officially proposed yet. Solberg said the city plans to have more feedback meetings before a proposal is made to city council in June or July.
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