Marion residents may select garbage cart sizes as the city transitions to automated collection

MARION — Residents may select the garbage cart size they prefer as the city of Marion transitions to automated curbside collection of garbage, recycling and yard waste in September.

The Marion City Council approved a $1.8 million contract Thursday with North Carolina-based Toter to automate the process of collecting solid waste using a mechanical arm and standardized carts. City officials say this creates a more sustainable and efficient service.

All households currently receiving service from the city will transition to the new program this fall. The city will purchase and issue these wheeled carts to each residence.

This change does not apply to households served by private haulers.

Each household served by the city automatically will be enrolled in the standard service. This includes two large 64-68 gallon carts — one for garbage and one for recycling. The monthly rate will increase by $6 to $26 effective July 1.

Those who prefer two of the largest carts do not need to take action. The carts will be ordered and delivered to homes in August or September.

Those asking for the 46-48 gallon cart size (for the same rate) or opt into the curbside yard waste collection program, for another $6 per month, must select a preference to indicate they’d like to subscribe to yard waste collection. The cost covers the carts, new vehicles, tipping fees and service provided. The city last increased rates for this service in 2022.

A postcard mailer has been delivered to all households with instructions for making cart selections. Residents have until June 15 to respond using one of the following methods:

Once carts arrive, City Engineer Mike Barkalow told the council this week, residents will have a 90-day grace period to change the size of their carts and request a different one if needed — say, if a household determines its cart size is too large or small. People can then get a new cart size without facing a charge in that time period. If the cart is damaged — not by households — the city will replace it.

Residents may find sample carts on display at Marion City Hall, Marion Public Library and Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center. To find a full list of frequently asked questions and answers, and more details, visit cityofmarion.org/automatedcollection.

“The communication, the amount of care going into making sure the community is well-informed, has been really extraordinary,” Mayor Nick AbouAssaly said.

Deputy City Manager Kim Downs said staff currently go up and down every street for yard waste collection, even when not every household uses that service. Crews make 12,600 stops weekly, and of those, about 3,600 are regular yard waste users.

With the subscription, staff can then use data to model the route accordingly so it “reduces the wear and tear to our streets, it reduces the staff time, fuel and … wear and tear on the equipment,” Downs said.

The $6 yard waste subscription is prorated over 12 months so that staff do not have to activate and deactivate individuals’ accounts as the season changes, Downs said. Barkalow said staff can then immediately collect yard waste as seasons change instead of waiting for accounts to start up again.

Downs said the city modeled this fee based on what staff believe expenses will be for fiscal 2025 for the solid waste enterprise fund.

“We’re trying to build a system that works for everyone and not a system that's tailored to everyone,” Barkalow said. “We can only make so many variations without making it too cumbersome and too expensive.”

This change also helps the city encourage recycling and reduce what ends up in the landfill by offering larger recycling carts, Downs said.

Staff can’t do full eight-hour shifts collecting garbage because it’s hard on their bodies, she said. This change reduces staff time, allowing the city to go from collecting garbage at 400 to 600 households a day to a higher range of 800 to 1,000. Staff can be put to use in other public services divisions.

“We have so many people that are so excited about this service change,” Downs said.

Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com