(6/15) When Herb Biser started renting out his apartments in the early
1980s, he paid for trash removal.
"We bought a dumpster," said Biser. "It cost us $152 and we paid for trash
removal. Then it was assumed by the town."
At the time, Biser said trash removal didn't cost him that much. The town
can't say the same. This year, the town it's estimating that trash removal will
cost $371,700.
Trash removal for Thurmont's 221 apartments costs the town $19,147 and
yields only $19,826 in property tax revenue to cover that cost along with other
services paid for by property taxes. By contrast, a single-family home costs
the town about $122 for garbage removal while generating $625 in tax revenue.
Because of the high cost of apartment trash removal, the Thurmont Town
Commissioners have decided the town will stop collecting apartment trash as of
July 1.
A letter signed by the commissioners on June 13, reads, "In some cases the
Town spends more money removing trash from apartment complexes than it receives
in tax revenues. The Town cannot afford to continue this arrangement and to
impose the costs of collection from apartment complexes upon the other
taxpayers."
In the case of the 19 units in Biser Apartments, the town collects about
$940 in property taxes but pays $1,121 to collect the trash from the
apartments, an annual loss of $181 to the town. Of the 13 apartment complexes
in town, Thurmont loses money on seven of them because of trash collection
costs.
The change in trash collection is part of the new "Solid Waste and
Recyclable Material Collection" ordinance that the commissioners passed at the
town meeting June 13.
One change in the ordinance is how the town will pick up bulk trash. Instead
of once a week, it will become once or twice a month.
Commissioner Ron Terpko said during the discussion of the ordinance, "We're
pretty much in line with most of the other municipalities in the county and
actually we're still going to be one of the most lenient for bulk."
Commissioner Bill Blakeslee feels that reducing bulk trash pick up to once a
month is too drastic and will encourage dumping. Unless he sees substantial
economic savings from the move, he won't support going to once a month.
The town will get quotes to compare what once a month versus twice a month
pick ups will cost.
Mayor Martin Burns said town residents have been "spoiled" with a lenient
trash policy. "We're trying to run this like a business and be the most
efficient with your tax dollars," he said.
"We were spoiled."
The other big change with trash collection is the institution of mandatory
recycling for town residents. Newspaper/mixed paper, cardboard, metal cans,
glass bottles and jars and plastic bottles will be picked up at the curb. Grass
clippings picked up the town also fall under the mandatory recycling.
Violating the ordinance can cost up $50 for the first offense, $100 for the
second offense, $250 for the third offense and $500 for each offense
thereafter.
