Analysis: Automation delays sanitation rate increase

An internal analysis of Fort Smith’s automated trash collection service indicates the about $2.9 million spent on the program since 2006 is proving beneficial for citizens and sanitation employees.

Baridi Nkokheli, director of the Fort Smith Department of Sanitation (DOS), said the recent and frequent questioning about costs related to Fort Smith’s automated trash collection service caused him to step back and analyze the program.

“There are a lot of new people on that board (Fort Smith Board of Directors) since we began this, and they may not be aware of what we are trying to do,” Nkokheli said.

One of the most vocal critics of the program was former City Director Bill Maddox. City Director George Catsavis, who won the Ward 4 election after Maddox retired, has continued to challenge program costs. He questioned Nkokheli during an April 5 board meeting about the $338,940 expense for 65- and 96-gallon trash carts.

Two of the primary gains in automating trash collection is in reducing overall costs and reducing, if not eliminating, the need to hire more people to service a growing city, according to Nkokheli.

During a time when the Fort Smith automated residential trash collection was expanded from about 4,000 households to just short of 20,000 households, the DOS reduced from 28 to 25 the number of employees on the residential service.

Between 2006 and 2010, the DOS gained one position to employ 78 at the end of 2010. During that time, the DOS expanded residential service in south Fort Smith, expanded the landfill, improved the system to capture and sell methane gas and expanded recycling efforts.

“We have not hired another employee in over five years, and we have added more than 5,000 households in just the past year,” Nkokheli said, adding that employees are retrained and moved to other positions to fill vacancies.

Reducing costs through automation has delayed the need for sanitation rate increases. The last increase was in 2007, with another increased planned for 2011.

“It’s quite possible that we can get through 2012 without a rate increase. Think about that. It may be possible that it will be five years before citizens see an increase. That’s how beneficial this program has been,” Nkokheli said.

In a cost comparison, Nkokheli’s estimate shows that servicing 25,791 households using manual collection methods requires 21 employees and 7 trucks to serve 3,750 homes during a 40-hour workweek. Using automated services, the 25,971 households require 5 employees using 5 trucks to service 4,800 homes during a 40-hour week.

“This is no different than what we have seen in our area manufacturing companies. … They use machines and other advances to produce more, produce it more efficiently and do it with less people,” Nkokheli explained.

Another benefit is fewer employee injuries, which lead to lower insurance premiums. According to Nkokheli’s report, trash collection workers under the manual system lifted about 12,000 pounds of garbage each week. Not only did that create wear and tear on the body, but it exposed the workers to hypodermic needles, glass and other trash hazards. With the automated trucks, the workers rarely touch a bag of trash.

Reducing worker fatigue, creating a safer work environment and moving employees to four-day (10 hours a day) workweeks has improved employee morale, based on Nkokheli’s assessment.

But he does point out disadvantages. First, and most obvious, is the upfront capital costs. As noted earlier, the expense since 2006 is about $2.9 million and will grow in the next few years as other residential and commercial routes are automated.

“Fortunately, the payback period for a truck and related carts is just over one year,” Nkokheli said.

The other disadvantage is implementing the service in new areas. DOS employees “encounter a higher call volume for a few weeks following initial implementation,” Nkokheli wrote in the analysis.

Yet another disadvantage is that space limitations — trash containers located in narrow alleyways, containers located in high-density areas, etc. — will prevent the city’s residential and commercial trash service from being fully automated.