The Columbia City Council is moving forward with a plan to change Columbia’s garbage system to a system with roll carts and automated trash vehicles, but not without some opposition.
Citizens Opposed to Roll Carts, a group of seven who have support from 200 Columbians, formed as the council made plans to go ahead with the change, but its effort hasn’t yet found it’s footing. It claims the change is financially unnecessary and unwanted by citizens but has little backing up those claims. At the same time, the council hasn’t been very cooperative with its constituents making up the group.
Is it worth it to get so worked up over trash cans? Probably not. But City Council should be more transparent in dealing with its naysayers.
According to the city, the switch to roll carts will cost the city $5.86 million but will cut down costs for Columbia in the long run. Solid Waste Utility Manager Richard Wieman said Columbia’s Solid Waste Services has a high turnover rate and pays compensation to workers who are injured on the job. The city has said injuries aren’t uncommon for Waste Services employees.
The new automated trucks are sure to relieve workers and keep them out of harm’s way. Of course, that comes with a price tag, but workers’ well-being should be prioritized over cost.
CORC backs up its efforts by saying the vast majority of Columbia citizens like the trash system as it is, but satisfaction with the status quo isn’t reason enough to oppose a change.
Despite its disorganization, the council should be listening to CORC. Instead, it’s withheld documents CORC requested months ago and hasn’t been at all transparent about its plans. With more than 200 signatures in opposition to the roll carts, the group members deserve to be heard by their elected officials.
But if this group wants to have a real effect on the council, it needs to find better reasons for its opposition, and the council should listen to those reasons. But when it comes down to it, upgrading Columbia’s trash system is what’s best for the community.
