Town updates solid-waste single‑hauler rollout; staff outlines cart counts, outreach and next steps

Daniel Logan, deputy public works director, updated the Town Council on the implementation of Sahuarita’s new single-hauler solid-waste program and outlined outreach, cart delivery and removal results and next steps.

Logan said the town ordered roughly 26,000 carts and that 24,782 carts “are out there in the town currently today.” He said an inventory check identified about 12,392 occupied residential homes and that the town had to collect roughly 18,000 previously distributed carts from prior providers; Logan described the removal work as substantial and ongoing.

Logan summarized the city’s outreach campaign, saying staff used postcards, mailers, HOA visits, social media and an online GIS live map so residents can check service days by address. He said the rollout team asked residents to “turn off the autopay” with their prior providers and to cancel prior service to avoid duplicate charges.

Logan said Waste Connections — the town’s service partner — committed a fleet of newer trucks for Sahuarita, including four new purchases and two already new trucks dedicated to the town; he reported the fleet serving Sahuarita averages under one year of age and that the company is using eight trucks for town collections.

Logan identified a “no contact” list of about 1,600 homes that have not registered with the new provider; he described the two-step approach staff will use to reach those households: targeted door-hanger outreach on service days to determine whether homes are occupied and follow-up visits or mailed notices as needed.

Logan said the town will continue education and monitoring of recycling contamination, will collect tonnage reports from the contractor, and is examining whether to add programs such as household hazardous waste collection or a glass-specific collection system. He said glass is difficult in a mixed residential recycling stream because it breaks and can contaminate other commodities, and that glass handling is only viable where the haul and processing economics make sense.

The council heard a public comment from resident Suzette Rosher, who said she lives in a 55-plus community with limited outdoor space and asked the council to consider exemptions or different bin options for residents who cannot store a recycle cart at their unit. Council and staff said they will continue to work through specific waiver or alternative arrangements and that staff plans to return to council with policy proposals if needed.

There was no council vote associated with the update; Logan said staff would return with any proposed code or policy changes.