Schenectady City Council members are talking trash. And for a change with this board, that’s a very good thing.

Last week, council members had the kind of free-wheeling, brain-storming discussion that’s necessary to resolve the city’s issues with trash pickup.

The discussion covered everything from regular pickup of bags to the currently paused bulk trash pickup system. They talked about how to define the amount of trash that individuals could put on the curb, how to enforce any new rules, the issues that collectors have with what to pick up, and the potential costs.

General Services Commissioner Paul LaFond served as the council’s main sounding board.

Council members had clearly done their homework, including examining what other cities are doing to manage their trash problems.

One council member noted that some communities sell trash bags with logos on them to help city officials identify whether a resident had paid for their trash. Maybe it’s an idea that could work in Schenectady.

Others talked about distributing plastic trash bins to residents. Several cities have, or are considering, implementing such a plan.

Bins reduce the piles of unsightly bags left on the curb, and also cut down on the smell and rodents. But, as some pointed out, bins can be expensive for taxpayers, and the city would have to have specialized equipment to pick them up.

Not that cost alone should rule out the use of bins, as many private haulers offer them. But it’s a factor in a cash-strapped city like Schenectady.

Council members also noted that any changes to the system could affect collective bargaining and staffing levels, which could further increase the cost to taxpayers. And they understand that any new approach will have to be accompanied by an educational campaign for residents.

Municipal trash pickup is a complex issue, especially for a small, older city like Schenectady with limited funds.

One solution doesn’t fit all, and a proposal that seems like it might work in Schenectady may turn out not to work or would need significant tweaking after it’s been put into practice (like the bulk trash sticker program).

To their credit, city officials didn’t appear to endorse or eliminate any of the ideas they batted around. Instead, Council President Carl Williams took the next logical step of compiling all the ideas and forwarding them to LaFond and the mayor seeking estimates on costs and administration.

After that, officials will have to assess the viability of some of the proposals, debate and discuss the pros and cons, invite public comments, and at some point make some decisions.

The first important step was getting a variety of options out on the floor for discussion.

The city doesn’t have answers yet. But it appears to be on the right track.

© The Leader Herald