Another year to pick up the trash

Del Norte Disposal will be collecting the county’s solid waste for at least a year longer than its contract called for.

The Del Norte County Solid Waste Authority voted Wednesday to extend the company’s exclusive franchise through July 20, 2011.

Board members also voted to form an ad-hoc committee to examine the franchise agreement in hopes of creating an outline of services upon which future bids can be based.

“The franchise agreement describes the recycling, trash and organic collection available to the community,” said authority program manager Tedd Ward. “‘Franchise’ means that they can’t refuse a Del Norte County customer, and they get to be the only game in town.”

Del Norte Disposal has held the  franchise for picking up the county’s solid waste for 12 years.

Whether it’s adding confidential document disposal and containerized organic collection, or providing cans and recycling bins, solid waste collection in Del Norte is under review.

The authority will release a request for proposals as soon as it has a model for the desired services.

“Ultimately we’re putting this out to bid for a competitive proposal,” said authority director Kevin Hendrick. “It needs to be a qualified company.”

Also Wednesday, the board heard discussion on the question of landlord responsibility for waste generated on their property.

The authority recently passed three ordinances that made landlords responsible for waste produced on their property, and provided options for punishing violators.

The authority sent landlords letters advising them of the change, which resulted in a large number of angry responses. A committee will now be formed, containing authority staff members, counsel and local landlords, with the aim of decreasing irresponsible dumping without targeting landlords when their tenants are irresponsible.

“It’s important that we find a way to increase tenant responsibility without weakening the fact that property owners are ultimately responsible,” said Hendrick.