Bulk refuse collections in city up over 2009

If you could drag it to the curb this summer, the Watertown Department of Public Works was willing to haul it away — for a nominal fee, of course.

The city's curbside refuse pickup program ended Aug. 27, and while appointments scheduled this summer outpaced 2009's numbers, the program has not regained the popularity of 2008, its inaugural year.

"It's a great service to have," DPW Superintendent Eugene P. Hayes said. "You really can't beat it. I just don't think enough people realize that it's out there."

The city made 93 appointments during the 37 days the service was available. Appointments were grouped so workers responded on 27 of those days, generally serving about three or four residences a day.

The program allows residents to schedule an appointment with DPW to have their unwanted bulk goods removed from their home. Within a couple of days, two employees stopped by with a modified pickup and hauled the items to the Jefferson County transfer station in Pamelia.

Based on the items and quantity, DPW asked residents to place a varying number of blue refuse stickers on the items. Removing a kitchen table and four chairs cost about $10.

The curbside collection program targets residents who cannot haul their trash to the twice-annual bulk refuse drop-off at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds municipal arena, Mr. Hayes said.

City residents who take trash to the arena in the spring or fall are charged based on the size of the vehicle and the type of debris they have. The next collection day is Oct. 23.

"If you don't have a pickup truck or something like that, and you don't have the means to get down there, we'll come right to you" during the curbside program, Mr. Hayes said.

He said the city ran a couple of television advertisements this summer for the service. Once the spots aired, business increased, although briefly.

"At first, people were calling in and it was great," he said. "Then it cooled right off."

The two seasonal employees assigned to the program were rolled into other DPW crews when no appointments were scheduled.

Mr. Hayes has not calculated how much money was collected or the amount spent on the program this summer. He has said the program costs about $45 per hour, including costs for salaries and equipment.