City of Mobile Getting Ready for Automation

Jul 1st, 2003

For the second week in a row, Mobile City Council members have voted unanimously to take steps to begin a new city wide automated garbage pickup service. The council approved a lease purchase agreement for the first nine trucks and allocation of garbage carts (garbage cans) at an interest rate of 2.38 percent. The bidding process will begin immediately and should take 30-45 days. Once a bid is accepted, trucks and carts will be ordered.

Just a week earlier, the council voted to proceed with the new automated program. It was a proposal tied to a conversion of the city's current Gross Receipts tax to a true Sales Tax.

The new automated service will begin in a portion of Council District 1, represented by Fred Richardson. About 9,000 residents will receive the new garbage carts and initial twice per week pickup. After 30-60 days, if there are no problems, service will be reduced to once per week. Following this trial period, automated service will expand to 42% of the city-all east of I-65. The City hopes that within a year after once per week service begins in districts 1, 2,3,& 5 the new program will move into the rest of the city.