Possible change for Dunwoody trash pickup in the wind

Dunwoody and the county have an annually renewable agreement whereby DeKalb provides residential and commercial trash service for the city. Should the county decide in the next few months to go to one day a week residential trash pickup, the decision would not necessarily immediately effect municipalities like Dunwoody.

“We would be obligated to fulfill those contracts as written,” DeKalb County spokesman Burke Brennan said. “If the contract calls for two days a week, we will pick up two days a week.”

But, he  said, once the contract expires, the new collection schedule would come into play, unless the municipality negotiates something more.

While nothing has been discussed by the Dunwoody council, City Manager Warren Hutmacher acknowledged the city could elect to hire a private company to pick up its trash if it doesn’t like what the county decides.

“It really is too early to speculate what we would do, since the county hasn’t done anything,” Hutmacher said.

Dunwoody's city services are contracted out to several private companies and though residents seem to be pleased with the privatization model, not everyone is happy about the possibility of going to private trash pickup.

Beverly Armento, who lives in Dunwoody, said she doesn't have a problem with DeKalb handling trash pickup. "They do a good job."

Armento said it is never too early to think about the effects of a decision to take trash collection private.

“I think this could mean job losses for the people who pick up the trash,” she said. “I would hate to see people lose their jobs. I would rather pay more so people can keep their jobs.”