Gardnerville trash hike should be reviewed

Trash attitude and awareness in Gardnerville is a current focus because the town board is considering a 20 percent rate increase (12 percent effective January 2022 and an additional 8 percent in July 2023).

If approved, the cost to the community will be more than $140,000 for the first year. Can the community have an impact on the current attitude of balancing the budget by increasing the trash rates? It's safe to say the trash budget is here for the long haul and Gardnerville will not become a zero-waste town. So that being reality, let's look for a better plan to mitigate budget shortfalls instead of always raising consumer rates.

People of Gardnerville have an expectation for leadership to make decisions for the good of the community not just taking the expeditious action of rate increases. Perhaps a smaller increase is necessary but at least options must be reviewed before approving a double-digit rate increase. It's all about attitude.

Here are just a few items for review and potential revision:

1-The annual county audit of the Gardnerville trash budget resulted in a significant “larger than anticipated opening fund balance.” What impact does this have on the proposed rate increase?

2-The budget practice of cost allocating general fund expense to increase trash expense is an item to be reviewed and revised as appropriate.

3-The first blue trash tote is charged at a primary base rate; however, additional totes are deeply discounted by approximately 75 percent. This unreasonable low rate results in higher landfill cost because there is no discount at the landfill. A ton of trash is a ton of trash regardless of which tote it comes from. A recent phone survey of other communities shows that Gardnerville is an anomaly with this extremely low rate.

Gardnerville’s current landfill expense is budgeted at $285,000. Interesting fact: landfill dumping fees for trash are twice the cost as fees for green waste. People using blue trash totes for green waste are inadvertently adding to landfill charges. A small item, but adding small savings to other small savings can be significant over the long haul. The largest potential for cutting landfill fees is reducing the amount of trash sent to the landfill. Reduce is the most significant of all the R's (Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle). How many times have you heard people who are moving say, "I really wish there was more stuff to sort, pack and move?" There's huge potential in reducing. Other important R's are reuse and repurpose. These top three R's combined will have the greatest impact not only on the landfill but on our carbon footprint too.

The fourth R, recycling is complicated and controversial. A huge drop in market demand makes the recycling of most plastics unsustainable and therefore not a viable option. So, while limited types of plastics continue to be recycled at huge costs, many plastics will end up in landfills and oceans. On a brighter note: the market for aluminum and cardboard are still positive recycle items.

Trash is part of our daily routine and how we manage it will impact the future. Sharing information, raising community awareness, educating current and future residents can make a positive difference. Small changes in attitude and action are essential to forming a partnership between leadership and the community for a long-term plan that doesn't always increase rates to satisfy a projected revenue shortfall.

Call or email the Gardnerville town office and ask for:

1-Town board members to drastically reduce or deny the double-digit rate increase and to proceed with a thorough review of budgetary and awareness programs.

2- A better long-term plan for the trash budget.

3-An ongoing trash program for responsible solutions that includes current and future residents.

4-A phase out of the low rate for additional totes.

The final public hearing for the proposed trash rate increase is Aug. 3. Comments may be made before the board meeting by calling the Gardnerville town office or by attending the Aug. 3 meeting. For information or options, call the town office at 775-782-7134 or visit the website at www.townofgardnerville.com.

Julie Duda is a Gardnerville resident and Trash Attitude and Awareness Project.