Within the community, many changes are happening every day. This can include construction, new buildings, roadwork, etc. One new addition to Marion is the new garbage receptacles. These are a new and improved way for the city to easily collect trash each week.
The bins were dropped off at the end of Sept. and were being used by the middle of Oct. Every resident received a bin for trash and a container for recycling. If one wanted a yard waste cart, they had to pay extra to receive one. The residents were given a handout by the Solid Waste Agency on what one can and cannot put into the recycling. The other side of the paper showed what one can bring to the landfill if they did not purchase a yard waste cart.
Kim Downs is the current deputy city manager. She oversees budget, improvement plans, and economic development. One of the new ideas Downs has had is new garbage bins to make trash day more efficient and staff less overworked. As many have seen, these receptacles are taller and wider to fit more, and they are on wheels to reduce the need to lift these bins. The city thought about the community being able to lift the bins, as well as the staff lifting them into the trucks. Downs said, “They are manually lifting 40 pounds, up and over… they’ve been throwing garbage for a really long time, and those repetitive motions… it’s just so much wear and tear on their bodies physically.” In 1999 the rate for injuries amongst garbage collectors was 52.7 out of 100 workers, according to Waste360. With the addition of new trucks, this will no longer be an issue.
The week of Oct. 14 was when these new carts kicked off. With the new bins, come new trucks. These trucks are automatic and can pick up the garbage cans themselves. The trucks still need the driver and other staff in the vehicle, but will not have a person pick them up manually. This makes everything a lot easier and faster. The trucks will have a mechanical arm to grab the bins and dump them. The city intends on having five of these trucks to make trash day go by quicker.
With any new task, comes many questions. All Marion residents who received the new garbage receptacles also received handouts on how to properly use these carts. The city asks that people place them in the correct positions so that when the truck comes to pick up the garbage, nothing has to be changed. The bins are supposed to be facing forward, three feet apart from each other, and on a flat surface.
The first few pick-up days may be a little confusing, but like always, with time, everyone will figure it out. Hopefully, the new and improved way to pick up garbage will do the trick and make everything more efficient.
