Trash haulers oppose the county’s takeover of waste collections
At a Jan. 21 meeting convened by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, representatives of trash companies said Fairfax County’s proposal for a Unified Sanitation District would lead to fewer choices and higher costs while driving smaller companies out of business.
The USD proposal calls for the county to take over and consolidate trash and recycling collection for all residences. Instead of the current situation, where residents and HOAs select a private hauler that best meets their needs, the county would contract with a few companies to handle waste collection in different regions.
When announced in late 2024, the concept was met with strong opposition, particularly from small trash companies and homeowner associations. In August, the Board of Supervisors deferred action on a USD and directed staff to consider alternatives and solicit feedback.
Related story: BoS will consider alternatives to a USD
At the meeting, Matt Adams, director of the Solid Waste department, assured the trash haulers that their concerns will be presented to the BoS.
Jeff Edwards of Evergreen Disposal called a USD a “one-size-fits-one approach that closes the door on a competitive marketplace that has worked well for decades.”
“Competition keeps prices fair and quality high,” said Edwards, warning that a regional system would likely “hand the entire market over to large out-of-state companies.”
“We are willing to collaborate with the county and innovate. We cannot agree that a USD is better for residents,” he said.
Dan Ciesla of Republic Service questioned whether a USD would serve the community’s interest better than what’s working today. Under a USD, everyone would have weekly trash service, but the current system allows residents to choose a trash company that offers pickups twice a week.
“When you eliminate competition and choice, service drops, costs rise, innovation slows, and communities lose their voice,” Ciesla said. Eighty percent of residents pay less than what the county charges people who currently have county trash service, he noted.
Related story: Residents express concerns about a Unified Sanitation District
One of the county’s main reasons for creating a USD is to promote environmental sustainability by having fewer trucks on the road. “We can achieve every environmental goal the county has under the current system without replacing the private market with a government monopoly,” Ciesla said.
“When residents have options, pricing stays disciplined,” said Joanne McCoy of Champion Waste Services. “A one-size-fits-all system rarely serves everyone well.”
McCoy suggested the county form an advisory panel to come up with solutions to improve waste collection. One area that needs attention is the long delay for haulers dropping off waste at the transfer stations. “Waiting two or three hours in line hurts our bottom line,” she said.
“We share the county’s commitment to equity and sustainability,” said Tad Phillips of the Virginia Waste Industries Association. “The most effective way to achieve that is a market-based approach that delivers results for residents. That’s what we have now.”
“A USD would fundamentally alter this ecosystem,” Phillips said. “It would favor large corporations, rather than small businesses with roots in the community. Let’s build something that helps the community rather than disrupts what’s already working.”
Government run programs are never as efficient/cost effective as a competitive free market, ergo, that’s what the supervisors will vote for, a government program.
And taxpayers will foot the bill for healthcare, retirement programs, vacation leave, vehicle maintenance and so on. Sure, we pay for some of that even with a private hauler, but show me one government program that’s cheaper than a private competitor. Anyone? Bueller?
Ever lived in or traveled to NYC? Ever seen the piles of trash? The driver strikes?
When our service sucks (name any govt program that doesn’t) what’s our leverage? Threaten to go to a market competitor? Oh yeah, they’ll be gone. And if some entrepreneurs want to compete? Oh sorry, not in the People’s Republic of Fairfax.
But boy howdy will we be sustainable.
“Education” “Fire and Rescue”, “Policing”, “Public Works, water and sewer”, “Public roads, Snow removal”, All things taken for granted….
Not all, nor taken for granted, nor are they all direct govt monopoly. Plenty of education options/competition other than govt schools. Water & sewer is govt, unless you’re in a rural area with well water & septic. Plenty of those still in Fairfax. Gas & electricity in NOVA are govt sanctioned monopolies, but not govt run. Even some fire depts are volunteer (Annandale, Burke, Centreville for example). But I get your point.
While some similarities, trash removal isn’t an essential service. I can cancel my commercial service and take bags or bulk to the dump. I can even leverage one provider against another over pricing and service days, etc. Just did so last year. I can even pay extra and have someone come up my driveway to under my deck and take cans to the curb. I’m not ready for that but can see it in the future–better than moving to Greenspring.
Another problem with the new Fairfax plan is it can (prolly will) get even worse. It’s just one step from the special tax districts like “old” Annandale. A 1% surcharge to your tax bill and the county does trash, yard waste, etc. No options. No commercial providers can compete. You can’t cancel and do your own. Leaves pile up and blow around till the government gets around to sucking them up. Unless of course you want to pay double and hire some landscape firm. Or most likely, never pick them up at all.
And, old timers will soon have the “benefit” of smaller trash bins like it or not. Need more space? Too bad. Can’t supplement and put overflow into a trash bag. Trash bags have been forbidden for years. Except paper ones for yard waste.
As someone who recently moved from Alexandria (County service) to Annandale (private service), the difference is night and day. On my current street, we have three different companies. This means six heavy trucks (trash and recycling for each) barrel through our neighborhood nearly every day, Monday through Friday—and even Saturdays on holiday weeks.
The constant noise, road wear, and ‘parade of trucks’ are a major hit to our quality of life. In Alexandria, it was two trucks, one day a week, and it worked perfectly. I fully support a unified system that reduces traffic and noise, and I hope the County works with our smaller local haulers to make it happen.
I see the beauty of the market at work. But if trucks are the problem, let’s get rid of em all. Let’s have the county deliver our packages & food & give us rides to wherever…no more trucks from FedEx, UPS, Amazon. No more Grug Hub or Door Dash. No more Lyft or Uber. Just government, government, government!
To everyone that voted for these liberal Democratic socialist candidates (including Spanberger), you got what you wantd. Stop complaining. Democrats don’t believe in competition. Deal with your continued bad choices due to ideology and being uninformed about subject matters (ignorance).