How much you pay for trash collection could change very soon. On November 1, Wichita's new trash plan went into effect. It requires garbage collectors to charge based on how much trash you produce. Local trash companies say it's a good deal.
Independent trash haulers like Eagle Trash say they're happy with the new plan, that it gives them a chance to grow their businesses.
"My business is worth more to myself, to a prospective buyer, and to my banker," said Neil Polley, owner and operator of Eagle Trash.
Under the plan agreed to last year, trash haulers must meet certain requirements to continue operating in Wichita. They'll offer recycling, where all recyclables can be put in a single container. They'll also start charging based on how much trash you throw away each week.
In exchange, the city will give trash haulers a ten year contract, a guarantee they'll be able to continue working. Polley calls it a win for him as well as his customers who now have more choices.
"If one person's recycle costs less than another, or their trash costs less than the other," Polley said, "they can shop around and figure out what's best for them."
Polley says in the last two years, especially since he signed the contract with the city, his business has gone from 75 stops within Wichita to over 600.
You will have to do the shopping around on your own. There's no single list of companies and options. Click on the link below for a list of garbage collectors operating in Wichita.
