New garbage carts await January usage

November is over and most of the blue trash bins have been distributed, leaving some residents with questions and concerns.

Cassi Lapp, communications manager for the city of Bella Vista, said that city ordinance requires residents have trash service for their homes through Republic Services, to ensure garbage is being disposed of.

"We want people to have an avenue to get rid of their trash for health and sanitary reasons," Lapp said.

The biggest change Bella Vista residents can expect to see is in their billing. It will no longer be included monthly with the water bill received from the Property Owners Association. Instead, the bill will be issued by Republic Services and paid three months in advance.

Residents need to be aware, she said, that they will receive a bill in December from Republic, which covers January, February and March 2017, but water bills for December will also include December's trash service. These, she said, will be the last garbage bills tied to the residents' water bills.

The price, Lapp said, will increase by 33 cents per month.

Curbside recycling, Lapp said, will no longer be available after the second week of December. This decision, she said, was made to keep the Bella Vista Recycling Center open.

Jennifer Fagan, municipal manager for Republic, wrote in an email that Republic will continue to accept trash in any bin or container until Jan. 1, and after which only the Republic-issued bins will be accepted.

While the company cannot recycle trash bins, Fagan wrote, they can dispose of them if residents leave their old garbage can alongside the road with a note for the driver to take it.

Alternatively, she wrote, the old bins can be used for other things, like composting and storage.

Republic will continue to offer a bulky-item pickup service, and the trucks will pick up one large item per week from a residence.

Fagan wrote that residents who have not yet received their trash bins, or who have any other questions about their service, should call Republic Services at 479-855-9782.