Public gives leaders an earful on Gwinnett garbage plan

More than two dozen citizens presented Gwinnett County commissioners with their distaste for the county’s new solid waste disposal program Tuesday night. But it was the board’s response that took the issue into a new direction.

After nearly two hours of ruling on zoning matters at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville, commissioners opened the floor for public comments. What followed was a nearly unanimous parade of protest over the new garbage collection ordinance, which mandates recycling and assigns two haulers to handle all residential collection in unincorporated Gwinnett County.

A superior court judge may rule soon on a request for an injunction against the plan, which is scheduled to take effect Jan. 2.

Most of the comments Tuesday night centered on residents saying they were deprived of the opportunity to choose their own hauler. Others said the county had run some of the smaller garbage haulers out of business by establishing a six-year contract with the two successful bidders for the job. Still others complained their rates would increase under the new plan.

After more than an hour of public comment, Commissioner Bert Nasuti said he was impressed with the points raised. Some of them, he said, the commission hadn’t considered and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful officials didn’t think about them when the ordinance was drawn up.

“We had some real problems raised,” he said. But, he added, the plan was established to solve a problem of illegal dumping and to satisfy state mandates for increased recycling.

“Believe me,” said Commissioner Mike Beaudreau, “your comments are being heard.”

Commission Chairman Charles Bannister went further.

“This has been quite an experience,” he said to the crowd. It is vital, he added, that the county get this right.

“You may see changes,” he said.