Athens: either get in the trash business or don’t

By Ian Slack

It's not a huge issue for me that when Athens and Clarke County consolidated in 1991, that municipal trash collection was not expanded to the formerly unincorporated areas of the county. It'd be a nice to have, but I can live without it.

However, the plan by an Athens-Clarke County Commission committee that would force residents in those areas to use a specific trash hauler is just plain wrong. When I moved back to Athens in 2020, I contracted with a hauler that was awful—would miss weeks at a time, saying their trash truck was broken down or they had staffing issues. So, I'd be very unhappy if this went through and I landed in their "district." I also question whether a government even has the legal authority to mandate people buy services from a specific company.

Frankly, Athens leaders, if you want one hauler in neighbors, then expand municipal garbage services and charge us for them. If not, mind your own damn business!

Ian Slack is an Athens homeowner