Curmudgeon's Corner

Germantown's Garbage

Posted by Al Campbell on May 20, 2010

Germantown, Political, Quality of Life, Taxes, Village Board

The Village of Germantown is again engaged in talking garbage…the pick-up of garbage.  The Board is again debating just how to go about holding the line on costs of garbage pick-up without unnecessarily agitating the residents who’ll have to adjust to any changes.

I blogged some time ago about the process through which Menomonee Falls had gone as it faced similar concerns.  It went to bi-weekly pick-up of garbage and recyclables with the contracted firm using more automated pick-up of larger containers that were wheeled to the edge of the homeowners’ property.

While that debate sparked some controversy, the citizens adapted very quickly.  There was some angst over the additional room the larger containers required, but that seemed to abate very quickly.  I find myself thinking about our garage and where larger collection containers might find a home; I suspect there would be some concern as we worked out the “new” spatial configuration, but I also think we’d manage to work through it.

Change, no matter how small or how well-thought, always seems to bring some concern.  If Germantown can alter patterns of pick-up and thereby hold the line on costs for residents, I think that is a win-win that would quickly be assimilated by us residents.

Frankly, I’d probably come down on the side of going to bi-weekly collection of both garbage and recyclables if the containers would end the loose garbage that litters our neighborhoods when people do not pay attention to loosely piled objects that get picked up and scattered by the wind.  Those containers would also help in the process of ridding the neighborhoods of raccoons and other scavengers that tear into plastic bags that smell of poultry trimmings and food scraps.

This subject is scheduled to again find its way onto the agenda of the June 7^th Board meeting if you are interested in making your views known.