Commentary: Solid Waste fees increase and ideas to save money

By John Gallup

Commentary Contributor

I read with interest the article in the TN concerning the increase in dump fees. A few of those contributing are misinformed concerning the fees, and the obvious Girdwood-style workarounds that can reduce trips to the transfer station.

First, for decades the services provided to Girdwood have been underwritten by Anchorage ratepayers. The income collected paid only a small fraction of the total cost of operating the Girdwood station.

I suspect that even with the current increase in fees Girdwood still doesn’t operate in the black, so the  subsidy continues. I’d welcome being proven wrong on this, but I’m pretty sure I’m right.

Second, in a connected community we should be able to consolidate loads easily. The rates state “bag or can,” and a 30 gallon trash can will hold 3 kitchen sized bags of trash, and $10 will buy you three full cans, or nine bags.

I built years ago a bear-proof garbage shed behind my garage which holds 3-30 gallon cans, (right now we only use two.). It has survived a couple of ursine assaults basically undamaged.

Because we have always recycled, our garbage volume is reduced by about 1 /2, which also helps. I’d be happy to draw up plans for anyone who would like to construct a similar storage.

If recycling isn’t possible for you or convenient, it would still be easily possible to network with friends and neighbors to consolidate loads into 30 gallon cans and share the costs. We are doing that right now, as we almost always have 2 full, but have another can which is basically free.

Four 30-gallon trash cans fit nicely into a Subaru Forester or any other taller SUV.

It’s fair to say that Anchorage takes a lot from Girdwood, but solid waste fees aren’t on that list.