Deffenbaugh began temporary changes Monday, picking up yard waste and trash in the same truck in an effort to alleviate some of the backup.

Advertisement Waste Management proposes changes to Omaha's trash and recycling collection Would include permanent delivery of yard waste to landfill Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Waste Management has submitted proposals to overhaul waste collection in Omaha, Mayor Jean Stothert said in a release Monday. Waste Management's current contract with the City of Omaha goes through 2020. Mayor Stothert said she requested proposals to address "frequent complaints about the current level of service and plan for the future." "We do need to modernize," she said. "I feel like our current service is way outdated."According to the mayor's office, Waste Management has submitted two proposals. Both proposals include a shift to 96-gallon covered recycling carts and upgrading the city's fleet of 60 trucks to automated, natural gas vehicles. The proposals also include the elimination of separate yard waste collection. The City struck a deal with Waste Management in the summer of 2015 to allow temporary co-collection of trash and yard waste. The deal came after complaints about delays in pickup. The change meant yard waste started to go to the landfill, instead of to a city composting site. Typically, separate collection would have started again in April. In the statement Monday, Mayor Jean Stothert supported continued co-collection of trash and yard waste, saying "There are many long-term financial and environmental benefits to co-collection of yard waste. Increasing the amount of yard waste will increase power production. I believe this has greater 'green' benefits than manufacturing compost." Craig Moody, with sustainability consulting firm Verdis Group, said not so fast."It needs to be studied a little bit more," Moody said. "There are so many variables that come into play when it comes to making decisions like this."The statement said yard waste is currently going to the Pheasant Point Landfill, and OPPD's Elk City Station, located near that landfill, uses methane gas produced to supply electricity to around 4,000 homes. Permanent co-collection of trash and yard waste would mean the elimination of composting and the city's OmaGro program. Regarding changes to the recycling program, one proposal would also provide covered carts for combined solid waste and yard waste. One covered cart would be provided to each customer, with additional carts available for $5 a month. "For both of those proposals, it will cost the citizens more. It absolutely will," Mayor Stothert said. The Mayor estimates the cost for upgrades to be in the millions of dollars. The other proposal maintains the current system for trash and yard waste, using cans and bags provided by the city. The carts would only be used for recyclables. Both proposals indicate recyclables would be picked up every other week. Bill Erwin isn't much of a fan of the new plan."The trash is going to go together with the yard waste, so how is that benefiting the environment?" he asked. "You're spending more money, but yet we're still combining the trash and the yard waste. I don't see how that's benefiting anybody."City Councilman Pete Festersen agrees."I would hate to see the composting operation go away," Festersen said. "I think that is an important environmental benefit."Others, though, are just happy to see solutions on the table."I think they're willing to work with the residents and that's always nice to have," Kevin Sladovnik said. "A city service work with residents of the community."Stothert stressed that they want the public's feedback. No decisions have been made and ultimately the city wants to come up with a plan that citizens are happy with.Input can be provided at hotline@CityofOmaha.org.38408504