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Atchison Approves Purchase Of New City Trash Trucks

By Joel Hardy

07/22/2014

(KAIR)--Atchison officials have taken another step in their plan to improve the city's solid waste collection system.

City Public Works and Utilities Director Justin Pregont came before City Commissioners during a recent meeting to present a plan to purchase two new trash collection trucks for the city.

Pregont says the automatic side load trucks are equipped to allow city workers to collect trash in a more efficient manner. Each truck is equipped with an arm on its side that reaches out and grabs the standard city trashcan before dumping it into the truck. All of this is done without the assistance of anyone else on the truck, so eventually, the city can go from a three man trash crew to a one man crew. Pickup per hour rates should increase by 35%-50%.

Pregont adds the new trucks will also vastly increase the safety of sanitation workers, as there will be less contact with potentially dangerous substances.

The reduction of manpower on each truck does not mean a loss of jobs. Pregont says that any personnel reductions will be handled through attrition or transfers to other divisions within the department.

Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase, after getting clarification from Pregont on the different aspects and capabilities of the new equipment.

Pregont says they will be ordered soon, and should arrive within 150 days.

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