City Council members scheduled a public hearing Tuesday for their July 26 meeting to hear comments on a possible change in solid waste collection services.

Mike Reeves, municipal marketing manager for Republic Services in Corpus Christi, told the council that he had been assigned to work with Beeville in the future.

“I’m here to be your steward,” Reeves said. He told the council that he would be in Beeville, speaking to the city staff at least once a month.

Echoing earlier comments by Robert Bradley of Republic, Reeves urged the council to consider converting trash collection to the automated system. If the council opts to convert, city residents would be provided with 96-gallon containers on wheels for their household trash and garbage and separate containers for recyclable refuse.

Household trash collection would be reduced from twice a week to once a week but the containers would be able to hold more material. And with some of the wastes being recyclable, residents would not be placing as much trash in a single container.

Also, additional containers would be made available to customers who need them at slightly higher price.

Recyclable wastes would be collected every other week. The lids on the recyclable containers would be marked with what items could be put in them.

Bradley had earlier mentioned some recommended changes in commercial trash collection services.

Residential rates would not change but because Republic would have to invest approximately $1 million in containers and new collection trucks, Bradley had asked the city to consider a five-year contract instead of the current three-year agreement.

The current contract with Allied Waste, Republic’s previous name, was to expire at the end of June.

Reeves reminded the council that the 96-gallon containers are easy to handle and animals are not able to get into them and spread trash and garbage around the neighborhood.

Damaged containers would be replaced by Republic at no cost to the customer.

Bradley had told the council earlier that even yard wastes could be discarded in the larger containers.

The new system, if approved, would enable city residents to get rid of trash cans and trash bags.

Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at reporter@mySouTex.com.