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Del City reviews bulk-trash program after year in house; staff say pickups meet promised five-day target
Summary
Public Works presented a year-long review of Del City—s bulk-trash program, reporting the city now handles collections in-house, averages about 35.7 tons per month and generally meets a promise to clear requested piles within five business days. Council discussed fees, set pickup days and legal steps for crew discretion.
Del City officials on Monday reviewed the city—s bulk-trash program and debated options to reduce curbside piles residents say have become a neighborhood eyesore.
Public Works manager Britney told the council the program began as a 2016 contract with private haulers and was brought in house in January 2024. She said the city now collects roughly 35.7 tons per month since October 2023 and that the current bulk fee is $2.25 per month in addition to a $12 monthly sanitation charge. "What we promised residents is that we could pick up all bulk trash piles requested within 5 business days," Britney said.
Staff presented cost history showing annual contract averages of about $198,000 when contracted and an estimated current annual budget impact near $210,600. The presentation walked through operational differences between contractor staffing and the city—s in‑house crews, noting that contracted vendors deployed larger fleets while in‑house staffing and equipment constraints drive scheduling decisions.
Council members and staff discussed several possible policy changes: adopting designated bulk days by ward (similar to Midwest City), setting a fixed excess‑cubic‑yard fee (staff compared Oklahoma City—s excess fee of roughly $13.13 per cubic yard under a larger sanitation package), and allowing crews limited discretion to pick up additional piles they encounter while on route and bill property accounts when appropriate.
Sanitation Supervisor Chris DeHaven was credited for improving turnaround time; staff said some days crews cleared requests within an hour and the longest recorded turnaround during the past year was five days. Britney cautioned that moving to set citywide bulk days could spike demand beyond available capacity and urged a measured approach: "I would rather underpromise and overdeliver than vice versa."
Council members asked staff to return at a subsequent meeting with legal analysis and concrete recommendations on three items: (1) a proposal for a fixed excess‑cubic‑yard fee or resolution language, (2) a plan for whether and how crews may pick up unrequested piles encountered during routes and how the city would charge and document those pickups, and (3) options for scheduling (zoned bulk weeks versus on‑demand pickups) tied to realistic staffing models and capital replacement planning for trucks. The council set a follow-up for the next regular meeting in December.
The presentation also prompted public comment. Resident Barry Gentry urged a once‑a‑month pickup funded by a modest monthly fee increase, saying the current system "is not working" in some neighborhoods. Staff and council agreed to pursue legal review and return with recommendations rather than adopt immediate changes.
