The City of Warr Acres is considering a significant upgrade to its residential garbage collection system, potentially shifting to a mechanized pickup model that promises to streamline operations and reduce costs. During the recent council meeting on May 20, 2025, city officials discussed the current sanitation setup, which serves approximately 3,236 active accounts, and the potential benefits of transitioning to automated side loader trucks.

The proposed system would involve the purchase of a new side loader truck, estimated at $390,000, and the acquisition of 4,500 poly carts for residents, totaling around $288,324. This change aims to enhance efficiency by allowing for a once-a-week pickup schedule, which could significantly lower operational costs by reducing the number of required employees. Currently, the city employs a foreman, three CDL drivers, and several temporary workers for its garbage collection.

Chris Knight from River City Hydraulics, who presented at the meeting, highlighted that the mechanized system could allow drivers to collect between 800 to 1,400 carts per day, depending on various factors such as landfill distance and driver efficiency. The council is weighing the operational savings against the initial investment, with discussions indicating that the new system could lead to a reduction in labor costs and improved service reliability.

The council also addressed concerns about the longevity and maintenance of the new trucks, with Knight noting that while automated side loaders can last 10 to 15 years, maintenance costs typically rise after the fifth year. The city plans to keep two rear-loading trucks as backups during the transition to ensure service continuity.

As the council deliberates on this proposal, the potential shift to mechanized garbage collection could mark a pivotal change in how Warr Acres manages its waste services, promising both efficiency and cost savings for the city and its residents.