New Garbage Collection Service Begins July 1 in Mentone and Surrounding Areas

Henagar to Take Over Garbage Collection in Mentone and Surrounding Areas July 1

Beginning July 1, the City of Henagar will assume responsibility for garbage collection services for Mentone and much of northern DeKalb County. The change is part of a broader effort by the county government to bring garbage pickup under local control and keep more money in the area.

“We’re taking over the whole north end of the county basically, from Sylvania to the Georgia line,” says Henagar Mayor Lee Davis. “It’s a big area, and there’s a lot to do in terms of routing and logistics, but we’ve been preparing for this since February.”

The change follows the DeKalb County Commission’s decision to divide its garbage collection contract among four municipalities: Henagar, Rainsville, Collinsville, and Fyffe. Meridian Waste holds the current contract, which expires at the end of June.

What Residents Can Expect

Pictured with one of Henagar’s new garbage trucks is the city’s sanitation department: (left to right) Scott Williams, Joey Bell, Michael Garmany, Darrell Payne, and Supervisor Caleb Heath.

The City of Henagar, which has long been in the garbage collection business, has purchased new trucks, hired and trained operators, and invested in new routing software. Operators are mapping the routes in the expanded area and establishing pickup schedules.

“Mentone will likely take two days to cover,” Davis says. “We’re still finalizing routes, but the goal is to notify everyone in advance based on their location.”

Henagar is currently distributing new garbage cans to residents who have signed up for service, but that process will take some time to complete. For now, residents may continue using their Meridian Waste/ADSI cans.

Residents Need to Sign Up

All DeKalb County residents are required to participate in garbage service. Henagar has mailed one round of postcards to area residents, with another round set to be mailed soon. These postcards include a QR code for easy access to the online signup form. Residents can also access the form directly by visiting cityofhenagar.com/street.

Davis strongly encourages residents to include a cell phone number when signing up to receive text alerts about service changes, holiday schedules, or unexpected delays.

“That’s the best way to stay in the loop,” Davis said. “If a truck breaks down or a pickup day shifts because of a holiday, residents will get notified directly.”

Bear-Proofing and Early Morning Pickups

Wildlife presents a unique challenge in the Mentone area. Bears overturn cans looking for food in some neighborhoods, scattering garbage and creating a mess. The bear activity has prompted many residents to secure their cans with chains, straps, or locks, which have to be manually undone for the can to be dumped.

Henagar uses modern trucks with side-loading arms. This makes collections safe, fast, and efficient, but also requires homeowners to unlock their cans prior to pickup. “Our drivers are not allowed to exit the vehicle for safety and insurance reasons,” Davis explains, “so any chains or locks need to be removed before pickup.”

The trucks will likely begin their Mentone routes between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. Since bear activity is most common in the evenings and overnight, this should allow homeowners to secure their cans then unlock them the morning of pickup prior to the arrival of the trucks.

Other options are available. Retailers such as Home Depot sell bear-resistant cans that are compatible with Henagar’s trucks, such as models with gravity-locking lids that will unlock when the can is turned upside down by the truck’s side arm. Some residents have discussed using a neighborhood dumpster to serve a number of homes.

A Better Approach

Davis has visited and spoken with several Mentone residents, including owners of short-term rental properties who expressed concern about bear control. “We’ve been out in Mentone talking with folks, helping them find solutions, and for the most part, people are satisfied,” he says.

While the change may require adjustments from some property owners, it represents an improvement over past contracts. Instead of one company having the contract for much of the county, the new approach splits the responsibilities between four municipalities with experience in the garbage collection business: Henagar, Rainsville, Collinsville, and Powell. “Having it split up like that, each municipality won’t have nearly as much to be responsible for, and I think we’ll get better service out of them,” says Commissioner Shane Wootten, who represents District 1 on the DeKalb County Commission.

Another benefit, he adds, is that the money residents pay for service will stay in DeKalb County instead of flowing out of state to a large company.

“Before, a lot of money was leaving the county,” Davis says. “Now that money can stay here and benefit DeKalb County.”

Local service also means local input. “Mayor Davis and the City of Henagar have a great track record with garbage collection, and I’m certain we’ll see better service than we’ve had in the past,” says Mentone Mayor Rob Hammond. “If we have problems of any kind, they are right here in our county, with their city hall just a few miles away. They are our neighbors, and they will be much easier to get in touch with — and to get a response from.”

Wootten agrees. “It’s gonna be a positive for everybody, for the whole county,” he says. “We just hope everybody will be patient during the transition. There may be a hiccup here or there, but I know that Henegar will do a great job. They’ve been in the business a long time and know what they’re doing.”