Town Garbage Collector Changes on Oct. 1

Starting on Monday, October 1, a new company will be picking up Town of Babylon residents' garbage and recyclables.

Town officials assured in a statement on its wesbite residents "won't notice much of a change."

The Timeline
The statement comes on the heels of several special Town Board meetings in the wake of a recycling scheme at the end of August that involved Jody Enterprises, to which the Board chose as the Town's new garbage collector in June. 

However, the Board ultimately rescinded the contract with Jody Enterprises on September 10 , and awarded a 10-year contract to EnCon on September 11.

EnCon’s bid of $13.40 per household per month was behind Jody’s $12.99 bid when the original contract was awarded in June. It was also behind other bidders when considering the cost of the entire 10-year contract.

EnCon agreed to lower its price escalation during the course of the contract - to 60 percent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and 10 percent of the Gasoline Price Index (GPI) - following recent discussions with an independent selection committee.

EnCon officials also assured the company, which has other residential and commercial trash contracts, had access to enough trucks that will all be painted with appropriate town signage by October 1.

“Nothing is going to change in terms of what they can put out, what gets picked up," Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said after the Board unanimously awarded the contract, worth nearly $7 million in its first full year.

Schaffer also expected the only thing to change is the color of the garbage trucks, which will now be orange, and added the the Town would spend the next few weeks getting information to residents.

What Residents Need to Know
To that end, since EnCon is taking the reigns from BSSI as of next Monday, Town officials offered a list of what residents should know in the same statement.

The list included the following:

• Pickup days will remain the same: "Your garbage, recyclables and yard waste will be picked up on the same days they’ve always been. Consult the 2012 Town of Babylon Recycling Calendar for more details."

• Pickup times might change: "The exact time your garbage is collected may change. It is recommended that you put out your garbage, recyclables and yard waste the night before your scheduled collection day."

• The phone number will remain the same, 631-491-3200: "In the event you have any problems with your service, simply call the same number you've always called."

• Service level will remain the same: "Under the new contract you'll get the same great service you’re used to, while taxpayers will save significantly."

"We're working very hard to ensure a seamless transition," officials further noted in the statement.

However, if residents experience any problems with their garbage service, Town officials advise residents to call 631-491-3200.