Ross: New plan keeps Apache Junction clean, trash disposal rates low
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By Sherril Ross
Apache Junction is a beautiful community, but those beautiful vistas are often trashed by illegal dumping.
A small percentage of the population regularly dumps trash in public spaces, or on their own property. Some burn trash in their back yards. It’s an unfortunate reality in Apache Junction, but it doesn’t have to be.
As our city decides on a plan that would drastically lower trash rates, a side benefit is that the plan would drastically reduce illegal dumping.
That’s accomplished by establishing residential trash pickup service city wide, at a very low rate of $10.71 a month for twice weekly pickup and monthly bulk trash pickup. Those are some of the lowest rates in Arizona. Simply put, this all but eliminates the motivation for illegal dumping.
Imagine driving around the city and not having to look at illegal dump sites or getting a whiff of a trash fire. Imagine driving through neighborhoods without having to look at the occasional ‘home grown’ garbage dump.
Apache Junction is the largest city in Arizona without a single-source trash pickup system. And that’s the reason we have so many illegal dumpsites destroying our beautiful landscapes.
Our deserts and open spaces are priceless. They should not be trashed.
On Dec. 3 our City Council will decide on the first step on a plan to keep Apache Junction beautiful and to keep trash rates down. If you have a moment, tell the City Council thank you for coming up with this plan and then ask them to please vote yes.
