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Public Works proposes advanced scheduling for bulk collection to curb illegal dumping and cut costs
Summary
Public Works recommended moving from street-by-street bulk pickup to an advanced scheduling model, stronger penalties and targeted enforcement; staff said the change could reduce fuel, labor and disposal inefficiencies tied to illegal dumping, and will return with an ordinance and public-education plan.
Gerard Roberts, a Public Works presenter, told Portsmouth City Council on Dec. 9 that the city’s current street-by-street bulk-collection approach is inefficient and contributes to illegal dumping costs. Roberts said crews run seven dedicated bulk trucks across district routes with roughly 40 stops a 10-hour day, and that drivers spend much of their shift driving to identify bulky items rather than collecting pre-scheduled loads.
Roberts estimated the program handled about 5,199 tons of material last year and said roughly 30% of that tonnage resulted from illegal dumping. He outlined line-item costs for the operation: an estimated disposal delta of about $52 per ton (for material taken to regional…
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