​August 23, 2024

On June 18, 2024, the City Council was briefed on Sanitation Refuse & Recycle Collection Route Safety & Efficiency. The briefing covered concerns associated with alleyway garbage and recycle collection for 38% of residential locations, specifically: 

• Safety concerns for route workers 
• Routing efficiency 
• Increasing costs 
• Environmental/CECAP factors 
• Ongoing damages to Sanitation equipment, City right-of-way, and private property 

Staff recommended that the majority of alleyway collections be phased out over a period of 24 months with implementation of a revised Alley Service Criteria, with the first affected alleyways converted to curbside collection 12 months after implementation of the new criteria. While a timeline was never firmly established, it was suggested that a possible implementation date of the new criteria may be in January 2025, with the first affected alleyways being converted to curbside collection in January 2026. 

Since the June briefing, we have heard from many residents about the proposed changes to transition away from alleyway collection service. The City values resident input and is committed to evaluating the feedback we receive as it relates to this initiative. Therefore, in an effort for us to reset and revisit this approach, City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has asked our Sanitation team to postpone the suggested implementation timeline to allow for further community engagement. Simultaneously, we will leverage this feedback to continue mapping out a comprehensive approach and phased strategy that is equitable and user friendly. 

Results of a fee analysis related to alleyway services are still expected in September 2024. Our team will continue to participate in community meetings arranged by councilmembers on this topic, and the follow-up briefing to the City Council originally slated for this fall will be rescheduled to later summer 2025. This extension will allow for a full year of listening sessions to ensure future operational changes are thoroughly communicated across the city. The existing Alley Service Criteria will continue to guide Sanitation staff’s decision-making process when addressing significant alleyway hazards and impediments during this time.

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This text was originally published  in a memorandum to the City Council on 8/23/2024.