Clayton News Daily

Photo by Jim Massara David Hunt of Waste Industries listens to a resident’s concerns after the Lovejoy City Council meeting.

LOVEJOY — City Council voted unanimously Monday to begin fining outside trash pick-up services later this year in a move to consolidate trash pick-up service with one provider.

The fines, which will become part of the city code, would essentially force out sanitation services other than Waste Industries, Lovejoy’s official provider.

“I for one am glad we’re moving in this direction,” said Councilwoman Marci Fluellyn. She said she saw keeping other providers out of Lovejoy as a way of limiting the number of garbage trucks on the street, thus reducing wear on roads and curbs.

The ordinance goes into effect Nov. 1 to give other trash pick-up services time to complete existing contracts. It would fine non-city sanitation providers $100 per roll-type container and $50 per recycling bin per day for a first offense. Fines would go up for subsequent offenses.

“What we’re trying to do is streamline the system,” said Mayor Bobby Cartwright.

Several Lovejoy residents, including Tavan Jones, expressed reservations. He said he received better trash pick-up service from another provider after leaving CLM, a company that has since been acquired by Waste Industries.

“Economics isn’t the issue,” said Jones. “The issue is customer service.”

Cartwright promised to see Jones’ concerns addressed if they came up again.

“I can assure you, if any of the citizens of Lovejoy feel like they’re being mistreated, we don’t want to tolerate that,” said Cartwright.

David Hunt, residential development manager for Waste Industries, attended the meeting and talked with residents afterward.

Hunt said Tuesday that Waste Industries’ better-trained drivers would provide superior service to CLM’s “maverick systems.”

Cartwright said Tuesday that he received several follow-up e-mails from residents who were satisfied that Hunt was available to address their concerns.

Waste Industries’ contract with Lovejoy runs through April.