Selma has a chance to fix its messy garbage agreement

Garbage collection is not the most glamorous responsibility of local government, but it is one of the most essential. 

When the system works, trash leaves the curb, neighborhoods stay cleaner, and residents rarely think about what happens next. When it fails, the evidence appears everywhere — overflowing containers, illegal dumping, roadside debris, rodents, odor and declining neighborhood conditions.

Selma is now preparing for another change in residential garbage service. Martin Environmental is still the current provider, and the Selma City Council has selected Preferred Waste Solution (PWS) as the next provider effective Oct. 1.

On Aug. 1, I spoke directly with representatives of PWS and was informed that the company had not yet received the City of Selma’s final agreement. Rather than viewing that as a setback, Selma should use this opportunity to strengthen the agreement before the proposed Oct. 1 transition.

The goal should be simple: correct problems that have cost the city money, improve accountability and build a sanitation system that serves residents for years to come. 

How Selma’s garbage system changed

Garbage billing was once handled by the Selma Water Works and Sewer Board. In 2001, the City of Selma assumed responsibility for garbage billing. Residential garbage collection was outsourced to private contractors during the administration of Mayor George Evans.

Many longtime residents remember when garbage charges were associated with their water service. That connection made it easier to identify occupied properties and keep every household participating in the sanitation system.

Today, Selma’s ordinance requires garbage service where municipal collection is available and places responsibility for payment on the owner of an occupied property, including rental property.

Yet one problem remains: people may stop paying their garbage bill, but they never stop producing garbage.

When occupied properties don’t pay for garbage pickup, the waste often ends up beside roads, on vacant lots or in unauthorized dumpsters. Eventually, taxpayers pay for cleanup through the public works and code enforcement departments. 

A successful garbage system must ensure that every occupied property is identified, every property has service and responsibility is clearly assigned.

The cost of unpaid accounts

Martin Environmental began serving Selma in September 2022 after Liberty Disposal left the market. Martin stepped into an existing operation and helped prevent an interruption in residential garbage collection.

Martin has maintained routes, equipment and employees while serving thousands of Selma properties. That service should be acknowledged.

However, the current arrangement also exposed a financial problem that cannot continue.

City officials have stated that Selma has been paying $50,000 to $60,000 every month in connection with unpaid and delinquent residential garbage accounts. That comes to about $600,000 to $720,000 every year.

Martin has reported that about 25% of its customers either pay late or do not pay at all. Under the current arrangement, Martin performs the service, the city pays amounts connected to delinquent accounts and then attempts to recover those funds from property owners.

While that approach may have prevented interruptions in garbage service, it shifted a substantial financial burden to Selma taxpayers.

Before Martin’s service concludes, the city should reconcile customer accounts, outstanding balances, garbage carts and billing records so the next provider can begin with accurate information rather than inherited problems.

The biggest lesson from the Martin arrangement is clear: Selma cannot continue working under a system that requires taxpayers to absorb hundreds of thousands of dollars every year because of unpaid residential garbage accounts. That issue must be solved before the next contract takes effect.

Should Selma return garbage collection to public works?

One question continues to surface throughout the community. Would Selma save money by bringing garbage collection back under the Public Works Department? It’s a fair question.

A city-operated sanitation department would give Selma direct control over collection routes, equipment, customer records and personnel. It would also allow the city to coordinate garbage collection more closely with public works, code enforcement and cleanup of illegal dumps. 

However, bringing garbage collection back in-house would also transfer every operational responsibility back to the city.

For now, the city council has already selected PWS, so Selma should focus on making sure the next agreement corrects weaknesses exposed under the current arrangement.

Property owners and rental housing

Selma places responsibility for garbage service on the property owner rather than relying entirely on the tenant. That policy makes sense. Tenants move. Property owners remain.

Every occupied rental property should maintain active garbage service. The cost may be included in the rent or identified separately, but responsibility should never disappear because the occupant changes. This is especially important for Section 8 and other subsidized housing.

Regardless of how rent is structured, every occupied residence should have lawful garbage service. A landlord should never collect rent from an occupied property while allowing household garbage to become someone else’s problem.

Costs and fees

The publicly reported proposal includes a residential rate of $25 per month, a $35 startup fee and advance payment of the first two months of service.

The final agreement should clearly identify what the startup fee covers, who owns the garbage cart, whether the cart remains with the property, who pays the startup cost at rental properties, any additional fees residents may encounter during the contract and how qualifying residents can receive waivers or payment arrangements.

The current exemption standards may not cover every resident facing legitimate hardship, including disabled veterans receiving VA compensation, elderly residents with limited retirement income, disabled tenants and low-income homeowners.

The next agreement should clearly establish eligibility for hardship assistance, disability accommodations and backdoor collection while also explaining how those programs will be funded.

The city should distinguish between residents who qualify for assistance and residents who simply refuse to pay.

Moving Selma Forward

I support Preferred Waste Solution, a Black-, woman- and veteran-owned business, receiving a fair opportunity to serve Selma. At the same time, PWS should be evaluated by the same standards expected of any municipal contractor.

I also support protecting the interests of the citizens who ultimately pay for this service. 

A well-written contract benefits everyone.

It protects the city. It protects taxpayers. It protects residents. It gives PWS a fair opportunity to succeed. Most importantly, it prevents Selma from repeating the same expensive mistakes.

Changing the name on the truck will accomplish very little if the underlying problems remain the same. This transition gives Selma an opportunity to strengthen its sanitation system before the next contract begins.

Let’s use that opportunity wisely.

Kimesha Houston Alvarado, also known as “Sunshine” Alvarado, is a Selma-based community advocate, media personality, and civic commentator rooted in the historic Black Belt region. A military veteran with a background in logistics, communications, and public engagement, she uses media, community dialogue, and historical perspective to discuss voting rights, civic engagement, culture, and the evolving role of Black institutions in modern America.