Published: October 05, 2008 12:40 am            

Backorder leaves hundreds without trash cans

When they get here, there will be plenty of trash cans to go around. Until then, some residents may have to put their trash out without them.

Just a few weeks after the Jeffersonville City Council approved an ordinance requiring residents to have a certain kind of trash can‚ or go without having their garbage picked up — the city has run out of those receptacles.

About 400 residents have paid for new trash cans that have not yet been delivered, according to Stephanie Miller, dispatcher at the Jeffersonville Street and Sanitation Department.

Three semi truck loads, about 1,764 trash cans, are due in anytime, she said.

Under the ordinance, all city residents were supposed to have the cans, which can be picked up or tipped automatically with special trucks, by Oct. 1. The city is selling the cans at wholesale price for about $60 and residents have a choice between a 48-gallon and 96-gallon can.

The first of the three truckloads was supposed to arrive more than three weeks ago, said Larry Thomas, communications director for the city.

When the city found out the cans were going to be delayed, it went ahead and placed a second order. As the delay continued, a third order was placed with a competing manufacturer.

Thomas said the latest he has heard is that the cans will be in by Monday. Once they arrive, city workers will start delivering them.

The backorder occurred just as trash service is starting in newly-annexed areas of the city.

Last year, the Jeffersonville City Council passed an ordinance seeking to annex six tracts of land and add about 9,000 people and 7,800 acres to the city limits. The annexation of two of those areas is being legally contested, but garbage collection for the other four began Oct. 1.

Many of the backordered cans were for the annexed area, Miller said.

City Council President Ed Zastawny said he has not received calls about the problem from constituents, but has read about it on The Evening News’ online forum.

“I’m really disappointed that the city doesn’t have trash cans for everybody,” he said. “It’s not a good way to start this new relationship with the annexed area.”

“I don’t know what the problem is,” Mayor Tom Galligan said. “We just can’t get them (from suppliers.) That’s what it’s all about.”

Galligan said many residents waited until the last minute to purchase their cans, and the city could not keep up with the demand.

About 2,500 cans have been sold this year.

        

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