Scott Sprouse Talks Trash

Hendersonville Alderman Scott Sprouse (Ward 2) took to Facebook to talk about ongoing problems with the city’s trash vendor, Waste Pro. Here’s what he had to say:

Based upon the calls and texts I’ve received, trash pickup this week is worse than last week, especially routes on the Walton Ferry peninsula yesterday and more so for the route serving the area south of Luna Lane. Waste Pro starting running a rolling schedule this week, meaning they start each day by finishing the previous day’s routes before starting the routes scheduled for that day. That means they were supposed to finish the Walton Ferry peninsula routes today before moving on to other areas of town. Please message me directly if you do not receive service by the end of today. My email address is ssprouse@hvilletn.org. You may call or text me at 615-824-9327.

In May 2019, I cast the lone vote against selecting Waste Pro and changing to once a week service. My vote was based upon my experience gained over the years and my concerns that unfortunately have since been proven justified.

Please be assured city staff and officials are fully engaged with this issue. Waste Pro is expected to uphold their contractual obligations. If they don’t, the city has the ability to terminate the contract, but that is a process that requires time and documentation. As a practical matter, it also requires the city to make arrangements to have a new provider ready to assume the work.

The bottomline is the situation is unacceptable. I understand the anger. I share the frustration. I will not accept COVID-19 as an excuse. The pandemic did not cause the problems with our trash service, it only more fully revealed problems already there.

I have read people suggest bringing trash to aldermen’s homes. If I were in your shoes, I would think the same thing, but instead of putting that messy burden on my neighbors, please let me come to you. I’m ready to borrow my father’s pickup and make runs to the dump myself. Just let me know via the email address or cell number provided above.

I am sorry for the trouble. You deserve better.

Garbage Map

Waste Pro begins once-a-week trash pickup next week, starting July 1.

Here's a map of the days of the week your trash will be picked up --

of course, let us know if you experience any challenges in this transition:

newshendersonville@gmail.com

Trashy FAQ

Tena Lee in the Hendersonville Standard does a great job of explaining what's going to happen with trash starting in July as the city moves to once a week pickup.

Residents won’t receive a new or different trash can. They can provide their own additional cans with a maximum height of 42 inches.

According to Clary, bulk items placed at the curb will be picked up the same day residents’ trash is picked up.

A pilot recycling program was implemented in the fall of 2017 that serves around eight different neighborhoods. However, bids haven’t been issued for a citywide effort.

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More on Trash

The Hendersonville Standard has more on the move to once-a-week trash pickup:

Hendersonville leaders voted 10 to 1 on Tuesday to switch from a twice-a-week back-door trash collection service to a once-a-week back-door service.  The move is estimated to save the city around $2 million each year.

Recycling?

On Tuesday, Debbie Floyd, a member of an advisory committee appointed by board members to explore the issue of solid waste and recycling, said her committee gave a formal recommendation that the city implement curbside trash pick-up along with curbside recycling.

Floyd questioned why several aldermen seemed to be unaware of the recommendation.

The committee determined that if recycling is implemented citywide, the city’s tipping fee, or fee it pays to dump trash at a landfill, will decrease, according to Floyd.

Ward 2 Alderman Scott Sprouse said that he has heard from several residents who would like to keep the service the way it is.

“Of all the options [we’ve been given right now], not one of them includes recycling,” said Sprouse. “That’s not an option right now.”

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For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews