Boise's contracted trash hauler changes collection schedule for greater efficiency.

Beginning on April 13, trash pick-up days are changing for many residents in the Allied Waste service areas of Boise, Eagle, Star, and unincorporated Ada County. By changing trash pick-up days Allied can better balance customers serviced per day, take advantage of updated equipment and keep costs low for the customer.

“We’re always looking for new ways to gain greater efficiency,” Allied Waste Business Development Manager Rachele Klein said.

Klein said updates to the routes can no longer accommodate the recent uneven pattern of growth without moving some customer’s service days. Not updating the service schedule creates additional costs in terms of fuel, labor and truck wear and tear. For the City of Boise this is first major route update in nearly two decades.

“We anticipate the transition to new trash days to go smoothly,” said Klein. “Over the years we have changed service days in several cities. Residents have always adjusted quickly to their new schedule.”

Klein explained that residents will be informed about pick-up day changes through multiple communications venues, including newspaper ads, direct mail to residents’ homes, door hangers, and flyers that will be attached to trash cans. In addition, residents can find a map detailing their new pick-up schedules at Allied Waste’s new website: www.alliedwasteidaho.com.

“We realize customers are used to putting their trash and recycling out on a particular day, but we think the benefits of re-routing outweigh the inconvenience of changing to a new trash day,” said Klein. “This increased efficiency will allow us to keep rates down and positively impact local air quality by reducing the number of miles driven. We will be saving nearly 200 gallons of bio-diesel per day which will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

The route changes are the latest in several Allied Waste initiatives focused on “greening” operations and reducing costs. Allied Waste completed a full conversion of its garbage hauling and recycling trucks to biodiesel fuel in 2007. Other initiatives include daily tire pressure checks and automated shut-offs for idling trucks. Later this year, Allied Waste will convert part of its fleet to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and is a major environmentally friendly step toward greatly reducing diesel emissions in Treasure Valley.