HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 02-02 As goes my rubbish pick-up, so goes America MN MPR 2/1/2016 As goes my rubbish pick-up,so goes America I NewsCut I Minnesota Public Radio News
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NewsCut As goes my rubbish pick-
MPR News fresh eye on the news up, so goes America
Bob Collins February 1, , Mfr
As I write today's NewsCut, I'm watching a trash hauler work its way down the avenue.
Shortly, there'll be another driving too fast in a rush to make all of its pick-ups. Then
another, making a racket down the street, the repairs for which I'll be paying an
assessment on for another 13 years.
It'd be OK with me if the home city selected just one rubbish hauler, but, as the Star
Tribune points out in an article today on attempts elsewhere to do so, it's clear we are
incredibly invested in the disposal of our trash.
A few years ago in Maplewood, as I recall, people invoked their right and freedom of
choice in its bid to repel a move to select an official trash hauler for the town. The city
became the first in Minnesota to limit trash collection to just one hauler.
The Pollution Control Agency figures Maplewood saved over $1 million. The city council
member who pushed the idea was voted out of office.
"I don't think we've had any cities that have tried this and people didn't show up to throw
a fit," Craig Johnson, a lobbyist for the League of Minnesota Cities, told the Star Tribune's
John Reinan. "It's a very controversial issue."
Bloomington is the latest community to go with a single-hauler, amid promises it'll save
the average homeowner about $loo a year.
The response was predictable.
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organized. collectio n. 1.1:: as assed. with. the sus.ppwl oftl'i.e hai.;V.ling in.d.111.st et
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2/1/2016 As goes my rubbish pick-up,so goes America I NewsCut I Minnesota Public Radio News
11[n. Bloorn.ington, a. grou.p called. Garbage Llwilers for (.A.fizen. Cb.oice a.ggi'(,.,ssiveIy
fought th(,.� city's efforts, ri:wiling out glossy, four col.or fliers and other in.forrriation.
John. Kysylyczyn., a spokes rrw.n. for the grotj..11,,), said the local an.d. regional. haulers have
always su.pport(:md ol')eri. collection..
"117here's soyn.etl-�.irlg called. f.*r,eed.orn. iri. ff-fis cou.n.try ]-(.e said. -I'rhe garlmge hai.,ilens
have the right to sl)ea.k ul.-.) (: n. beli.alf of theix ctiiistofriers."
Opponents say local businesses would be pushed out if bidding came down to them vs. big
corporations. That's a fair point, except in the suburbs where people regularly have
ignored local businesses to support huge chains.
Why is trash collection where people want to draw the line?
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About the blogger
Bob Collins
bcollinso-mpr.ora • (U-newscu
Bob Collins has been with
Minnesota Public Radio since 1992,
emigrating to Minnesota from
Massachusetts. He was senior editor
of news in the 'gos, ran MPR's
political unit, created the MPR News
regional website, invented the
popular Select A Candidate, started
the two most popular blogs in the
history of MPR and every day
laments that his Minnesota Fantasy
2/1/2016 As goes my rubbish pick-up,so goes America I NewsCut I Minnesota Public Radio News
Legislature project never caught on.
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