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By Buzz Trexler

Star Correspondent

 The Elizabethton Sanitation Department unveiled a nearly half-million-dollar automated garbage truck Wednesday and Director Danny Hilbert encourages residents to follow instructions – including placing containers on an X mark beginning in a little less than two weeks.

 The truck, a 2025 Mack Chassis with Heil DP Python Automated Side Loader Garbage Truck, is the first of two that will be put into operation at a cost of $464,415.98 each. The letter of intent to purchase the second one from Stringfellow Inc. was approved by City Council in November 2023.

 “Our residents need to properly follow the guidelines that have been released … by mail or Facebook to ensure garbage collection is like normal,” Hilbert said during a press conference on Wednesday at which he outlined some instructions for the city’s customers.

Containers must be placed with the handle of the cart facing the home or business with container lid closed. Also, the container must be at least 3 feet away from other containers or objects, such as mailboxes, cars, light poles, etcetera,” he said.

 Workers have been marking an X to help customers put the containers in the proper spot for pickup. If a resident regularly has need for a second container it can be purchased at City Hall for $72.01.

 “Excessive garbage cannot be collected on top or the side of the containers,” Hilbert said. “Only garbage inside of the container will be collected and that’s according to our guidelines that we send out to our residents.”

 When the new truck is put into operation – tentatively on June 24 – it will initially have two employees on the truck: a driver/operator plus a second person who will be available in case a customer has not followed directions, such as placement of the container, excessive garbage, or the presence of cardboard outside of the container.

 If a violation occurs during that first pickup, the second worker will still empty the container and remove the excess garbage but will place an orange “Notice” tag indicating what was done wrong. “We’re going to pick up the garbage the first time,” Hilbert said, but if garbage is piled around the container, or on top of it, the next pickup date, the truck will move on to the next container. “If we’re not, we’re defeating our purpose.”

 Hilbert said the Sanitation Department currently picks up a lot of cardboard boxes, but once the automated system starts customers will need to cut the cardboard into small enough pieces to fit inside the container or take it to Carter County Recycling Center, 410 Cherokee Park Drive. All cardboard left outside the container will be the responsibility of the customer. The center operates from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is a cardboard bin located outside the gate where cardboard only can be placed after hours.

 Hilbert said the use of the automated truck will create a safer working environment by eliminating the need for employees to ride on the back of rear-loading garbage trucks, one of which is still in use by the city. “It’s also important to create a more efficient workday by allowing garbage collection to operate at a faster rate and only utilizing one employee to operate the side-loader garbage truck.”

 The sanitation director said use of the new truck will not eliminate any current personnel. “No employee is losing their job at all,” Hilbert said, explaining that those employees will be moved to the Street Department and used in various capacities, such as mowing, weed eating, and sidewalk repair. “This will be a big help to us after we move these folks over into the Street Department,” Hilbert said, adding that it creates new opportunities for those employees.

 

 

 

 

Automated Garbage Collection

 WHAT: The Elizabethton Sanitation Department is implementing the use of the first of two automated garbage collection trucks.

 WHEN: The tentative start date is June 24.

 WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• You will use your current container. If your container is damaged, call the department at 423-547-6306.
• All trash must be bagged and placed in the container.
• The container must be curbside by 7 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day.
• Place the container on the X mark. When placing a second container, ensure it is 3 feet away from the original container and other objects, such as mailboxes, cars, and utility poles.
• The lid must be closed, and the handle of the cart must face the home or the business.
• If you need a second container, it can be purchased at City Hall, 136 S. Sycamore St., for $72.01 as long as inventory is in stock.
• Trash that is not in the container will not be picked up.