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Waste-hauling representatives urge delay on 'locked container' bill, citing cost and safety concerns
Summary
Republic Services and Waste Management representatives testified in public comment against proposed changes in bill 250843 that would require locked containers citywide, warning immediate enforcement and the change from "secured" to "locked" could raise costs, slow routes and create safety risks for haulers and customers.
Representatives from major waste-hauling companies urged the Streets and Services Committee to postpone action on proposed changes to container requirements in bill 250843, which was being held by its sponsor.
Dominic Fulginiti, municipal services manager for Republic Services, said changing the term "secured" to "locked" and imposing an immediate effective date would create "significant operational safety, customer service, and quality of life challenges." He warned a citywide lock requirement could slow collections and potentially disrupt services for some commercial and industrial customers and asked the committee to delay action to allow stakeholders to develop a workable approach.
Bernard James McHugh Jr., a Waste Management director with decades of local experience, gave a more detailed operational and cost estimate. McHugh said retrofitting containers would cost an estimated $250 to $300 per container and that firms would need to pull units from service for welding and installation. He also said the lock requirement would add roughly 3–5 minutes per stop to drivers' routes to remove and resecure locks — a per-container time penalty that, aggregated across routes, would increase operating costs. "Adding 3 to 5 minutes at 200 an hour to run a truck... That's $3.33 a minute," McHugh said, and he warned the costs would be passed to customers.
Both witnesses said haulers are willing to work with the city to craft practical, enforceable requirements but recommended postponement of immediate enforcement.
The committee did not act on bill 250843 at the hearing; the bill remained held by the sponsor for further discussion.
