Tarrytown Launches Pilot Garbage Collection Program

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December 3, 2015

by Rick Pezzullo

The Village of Tarrytown has launched a pilot sanitation collection program in carefully selected neighborhoods in an effort to improve efficiency and reduce workman compensation claims.

Starting on December 3, 455 homes will have household garbage collection reduced from two days (Monday and Thursday) to one (Thursday) and picked up only in 96-gallon rolling carts that were issued earlier by the village.

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The carts will enable a garbage truck retrofitted with $7,000 mechanical arms to empty the trash and prevent village employees from having to lift heavy cans.

Village Administrator Michael Blau said pilot program will be evaluated in three months. — Village Administrator Michael Blau said pilot program will be evaluated in three
months.

“We need to give it a try,” said Village Administrator Michael Blau. “A lot of communities have gone to once a week (garbage pickup). If it works in other communities why can’t it work in Tarrytown? If it doesn’t work we’ll be able to assess it doesn’t work.”

Blau said the Sanitation Department ranked second in the village in terms of workman compensation claims, which has sometimes forced highway workers to fill in to collect trash. The village set aside $783,200 in its annual budget for workman compensation insurance.

“It’s an efficiency and effectiveness issue. Will it save money down the road? Yes, if it’s implemented village-wide,” Blau said.

Blau explained the 24 streets that were chosen for the pilot program were selected based on the ease of garbage trucks being able to maneuver without many cars parked on roadways.

He said village officials will do an assessment of the program in about three months and mentioned some exceptions would be made for residents who felt the new rolling carts were too heavy.

However, even if the pilot program proves to be unsuccessful, Blau stressed the village would not adjust the number of household garbage pickup days. Recycling will continue to be picked up every Wednesday.

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