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Residents ask Coeur d'Alene to review Republic Services’ alley pickup change
Summary
Multiple Military Drive residents told the City Council the contracted trash hauler stopped alley collection for some homes without proper notice; they asked the city to review the Solid Waste Services contract and restore alley pickup while the matter is investigated.
Bridget Hill, a long-time resident of 338 Military Drive, asked the Coeur d'Alene City Council on Jan. 6 to review the city’s Solid Waste Services contract and reinstate alley trash collection while the city investigates a recent change by Republic Services that halted alley pickup for certain households.
Hill said the contract’s Schedule A, section C2 establishes alley service as the default and requires 20 working days’ notice and prior city approval for routing changes. “We are here to respectfully request your review and enforcement of the Coeur d'Alene Solid Waste Services contract following Republic Services' decision to eliminate alley trash collection for certain households,” Hill said, urging the city to provide documentation of any notice or approval.
Several neighbors backed Hill’s request during the public-comment period. Jim Cook said about 85 households received stickers stating their alleys were ‘impassable’ and that trucks would no longer service those alleys; he said trucks subsequently returned for pickups, which raised questions about the contractor’s reasoning. “If the city did not receive notice or provide approval, then this change would constitute a breach of contract by the contractor,” Cook said.
Bill Elliott read a letter from neighbor Jonathan Burns who told staff that a Republic operations manager said the company could continue alley service if it added a second crew member or purchased a smaller truck, and that the added cost would amount to only pennies per household over the contract term. Elliott asked the council to direct the city attorney and administrator to investigate and negotiate a reasonable solution on residents’ behalf.
Councilmember Christie said the council became aware of the complaints only after receiving resident emails; the mayor said staff would meet with the administrator and city attorney when the administrator returns from vacation and that the process would be public and transparent. No formal action or vote on the contract was taken at the meeting.
Next steps: Councilmembers said staff will investigate notice and routing records, consult the city attorney about contract compliance, and report back to the council when the administrator is available.
