LaFayette dumps dumpster service

LaFayette’s elected officials were unanimous in a decision to no longer offer dumpsters as part of its municipal garbage service.

Not only had providing dumpster service to 32 commercial customers been losing money, County Manager David Hamilton informed the city council that a major investment would be necessary if the service were to continue.

Hamilton said the bottom of a majority of the current dumpsters have rusted out and need replacement.

“If we are going to continue to stay in the dumpster business, we’re going to have to purchase some,” he said.

Each steel dumpster costs about $900, plus an equal amount for delivery, the manager said.

“I’m not saying we have to do this, but it makes sense that if you buy 10 dumpsters, the freight is still $900,” Hamilton said, adding that because freight is the same for one or many, it makes a lot of sense to buy 10. “So, a purchase of dumpsters is about $10,000.”

And that would not be the only cost to the city for what is already a money-losing operation. Hamilton said that along with new containers, the city would also need to purchase a truck to handle dumpsters

All this is occurring at the same time Walker County has raised rates for use of the county landfill by about 23 percent, he said.

The council decided by a 5-0 vote to eliminate dumpster collection altogether.

“We either need to stop doing or go up (on price) to cover the cost. I personally would rather get out of it, because we just don’t have to volume to justify it,” Councilman Ben Bradford said.

The existing dumpsters and the truck will be sold as surplus items once the 90 days are up.