Staff file photo

Tyler residents’ trash bills will likely increase next year after a pilot program aimed at saving money was discontinued.

A year ago, the city started a holiday trash pilot program, where solid waste crews would pick up residential trash once a week on holiday weeks, instead of the regular two.

That program was canceled by a unanimous vote of the Tyler City Council on Wednesday.

“I applaud you for doing the pilot program,” Councilman Don Warren told Solid waste Director Russ Jackson before the vote. “It was just that – a pilot program. I also applaud you for suggesting that it be eliminated.”

The program was intended to save money and delay a rate increase. The city has kept the same trash collection fee, at $14.07 a month, for the last five years. The fee is included in residents’ water bills. 

After a year, the measure did save money – roughly $70,000 to date – but it caused confusion, complaints and cluttered the sides of city streets with trash receptacles, Jackson said.

The program will continue to the July 4 holiday, leaving two more holidays with decreased service. Those include Easter and Memorial Day.

Residential trash will be picked up twice starting on the July 4 holiday.

By the end of the program, Jackson estimates the city will realize about $110,000 in savings.

Jackson said the city received 44 complaints about the change in service, with a protest rate of less than a percent.

Residents confused on what day their trash was supposed to go to the curb often would leave trash out all week. That is, technically, a violation of a city code, punishable by a fine.

“We saw from a management point of view that it would take time for education,” Jackson said. “It has success in that we did have savings, but there were consequences of service. What I didn’t want to do is have trash left out. It was making the city look worse than it should, and it would take a long time to get the education model out to advise people violating the ordnance.”

The city has code enforcement officials, but not enough to police hundreds of left out cans.

“I don’t have the staffing to do code enforcement (for that many violations),” Jackson said. “It created an unrealistic expectation.”

One of those city holidays also came with a potential for freezing temperatures, which would have delayed service even further.

The city will do a rate study to compete to similar-sized cities, Jackson said. A rate increase is on the table for next budget year. Jackson estimates it would be between $1 and $2 per month.

Twitter: @TMTFaith