The Dallas sanitation department has proposed significant changes to the city’s waste collection system, suggesting the elimination of alleyway trash pickups for approximately 30,000 customers.
This move is prompted by ongoing safety concerns and aims to streamline operations as the department grapples with equipment damage and the risk of employee injuries in narrow spaces.
During a City Council meeting on Wednesday, sanitation director Cliff Gillespie presented the proposal, which aims to discontinue alley collections in neighborhoods with alleys that are 9 feet wide or less.
The proposal specifically targets blocks where most homes feature front driveways, in alleys that are not fully paved, and in dead-end alleys longer than 200 feet.
This is the latest attempt from Dallas officials to phase out alleyway trash and recycling pickups, following a previous proposal that met with significant backlash from residents.
Gillespie stated that the recent proposal was crafted based on feedback from residents and deliberately designed to impact fewer customers than last year’s more extensive suggestion.
Safety is the primary concern for the sanitation department, according to Gillespie.
He noted, “We see routine equipment damage that is running in 8- and 9-foot alleys, contact with fences, utility poles, overhead wires.
More troubling are the worker injuries and near-misses for electrocution and fires.”
As the city grapples with the logistics of waste management, Dallas currently provides weekly trash and recycling services for over 261,000 customers, with 36% of those collections taking place in alleys.
In certain city districts, especially in northeast, northwest, and far north Dallas, a majority of refuse collection occurs in alleys rather than at the curb.
Many residents argue that their neighborhoods were specifically designed for alley collections, as the layout often restricts driveway space in the front of homes for trash bins.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the additional burden on residents who would need to wheel their bins from their homes to the street for pickup.
Older residents and individuals with disabilities worry that moving bins through their homes or over lawns would pose significant challenges.
If the City Council approves the sanitation department’s proposal, the changes could be implemented as early as January, with a complete transition by next July.
The sanitation department is also projecting a new billing structure: a monthly fee of $45.69 for those opting for alley pickups, while curbside collections could cost $38.02.
Currently, all residential customers pay a monthly sanitation rate of $39.73, regardless of their pickup location.
Ultimately, deciding on these financial changes will rest with the City Council.
Gillespie mentioned that the department also evaluated another option, which involved ending pickups in all alleys that are 9 feet wide or smaller, an action that would potentially affect over 44,000 customers.
The city could also consider a scenario that eliminates all alleyway collections or maintains current services, albeit with the purchase of 100 new, smaller trash trucks.
In advocating for a targeted approach, Gillespie described the current recommendation as a “more practical and targeted path forward,” noting that continued service might entail higher rates for residents.
During the City Council session, there was no unanimous agreement on the proposed changes. Some council members, including Adam Bazaldua, Paula Blackmon, Lorie Blair, Jesse Moreno, and Kathy Stewart, expressed support for the sanitation department’s recommendation.
Blackmon, who represents East Dallas’s District 9, remarked, “I don’t like it, but I understand it.
And I think this is a good middle ground from what the conversation we had a year ago. It’ll be painful before we get to the better part of this.”
Conversely, council member Bill Roth underscored that sanitation collections are a fundamental service that residents expect and deserve, whether pickups occur from the street or alleys.
He indicated that the proposal might not resonate well with homeowners in his district, stating, “I would strongly recommend that the current situation remain the way it is… especially in our particular district.”
City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert indicated that staff would continue to refine their trash collection strategy and focus on enhancing community outreach and educational campaigns around the proposed changes.
In addition to safety concerns, Gillespie noted the economic impact of alley collections for the city.
The sanitation department utilizes two truck types: one manual loading and another with an automated arm for automated collection.
Alley pickups predominantly employ rear-loading trucks, necessitating a driver and two workers for collection tasks, while side-loading trucks are operated by just one person, enhancing efficiency.
As of September 2023, the operational costs for the 109 rear-loading trucks amounted to $18 million, employing close to 300 city staff and temporary workers, while the 92 automated side-loading trucks cost $11 million to operate.
As the debate continues, Dallas officials remain committed to addressing the challenges of garbage collection while considering the needs and concerns of local residents.
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