Garbage collection will start hour earlier

In September, trash collectors will start picking up residential areas at 6 a.m.

People who race their trash cans to the curb just before the garbage trucks arrive will have to rise an hour earlier come September. Garbage pickup will start at 6 a.m. then instead of 7 a.m., under an amended agreement with the city's contracted waste hauler.

Milpitas City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to introduce a solid waste ordinance amendment to the city's agreement with Allied Waste Services of North America. The changes do not affect garbage rates, which were increased last January.

At the request of Allied Waste, the city council approved a trial six-month period residential collection at a 6 a.m. start time beginning in September.

Currently, Allied Waste is allowed to start work at 6 a.m. during the summer, but can start no earlier than 7 a.m. during the rest of the year.

Though city officials approved a six-month trial, Allied Waste initially asked for a one-year trial to do garbage pickup at 6 a.m.

But Councilwoman Althea Polanski initially balked at the idea, saying early garbage collection would annoy residents, herself included.

"I don't like getting jarred awake at any time of the year personally," she said, adding it was a quality of life issue for residents.

Gil Cheso of Allied Waste told council members the new start time would allow garbage collection to end sooner, and would be safer

City staff claimed the city and Allied Waste had not received any resident complaints about truck noise during prior summer garbage collection performed at 6 a.m.

Council members eventually compromised on a six-month trial basis instead of one-year. The new hours will include a quarterly update to city council.

Besides garbage collection times, Tuesday's approval also impacts residential customers who want to get rid of yard waste. The approval reduces the maximum length of excess bundled yard trimmings from five to three feet in order to fit new Allied collection equipment.

City reports state the tentative effective date for the ordinances and agreement amendments is June 20, which is 30 days after the second reading of the amendment at the council's May 20 meeting.

- Ian Bauer