Athens Clarke County Commissioners are set to vote on the first steps of a new approach to trash collection downtown. At an agenda-setting session last night, Commissioners discussed a plan crafted by ACC staff that would create a half-dozen so-called “eco-stations” on Clayton Street, with the possibility of more to come in the downtown area. ACC Manager Blaine Williams urged commissioners to vote on the Clayton Street plan, while ACC staff pursues additional funding options to create additional eco-stations.
The eco-stations are a different approach to trash collection, creating hubs for garbage pickup rather than the current system where downtown business leave their bagged trash on the sidewalk. ACC Solid Waste officials say the eco-stations would solve several problems, like broken glass injuries to trash collectors and pedestrians and sidewalk staining from leaking bags, while improving the visual appeal of the central business district.
District 5 Commissioner Tim Denson spoke in favor of the measure, saying, “I think our entire community will be very pleased with getting the trash off the ground.”
District 3 Commissioner Melissa Link raised questions about whether downtown businesses have been fully informed about the plan and the proposed locations, while District 8’s Carol Myers urged her colleagues to wait and see what the Clayton Street stations would look like before approving more.
The eco-stations are expected to be on the agenda for the Commission’s April 6th meeting.
