Important Information About Garbage and Recycling

As most of you know, The Village signed a contract with Royal Carting Services for Royal to take over the collection of garbage and recycling in the Village of Cold Spring on a full-time basis.  This agreement went into effect on March 1st.
 
Why We Did This
The Village has considered outsourcing garbage and recycling a number of times over the years.  The cost of recycling has changed significantly through the years and what was once profitable is now a significant expense. This makes outsourcing more feasible and fiscally responsible now than at any time in the past.
 
It’s not just the financial cost to the Village that needs to be considered, but also the work hours involved.  The Highway Department spent a minimum of two days a week picking up garbage and recycling; during the peak tourism season that expanded to 2 ½-3 days a week.  This is time that could be better dedicated to repairing sidewalks, fixing curbs, maintaining Village properties including our parks, keeping storm drains clear, filling potholes, painting crosswalks, etc.  The time freed up for the Highway Department by outsourcing garbage and recycling will allow them to tackle these important infrastructure projects that we all want to see done.
 
Here’s the bottom line: it doesn’t cost the Village taxpayer any more to outsource garbage and recycling with Royal than it did in-house, especially when you take into account costs for disposal, fleet maintenance, buying a new garbage truck, and labor. 
 
The Services Royal Carting Are Providing
Royal Carting Service will provide the following services to the Village:
 
  • Weekly garbage (Thursday mornings) and recycling pick-up (Friday mornings)
  • Garbage collection on Main Street, the riverfront and our parks three times a week
  • Brush Collection twice a month in April, May, October and November and once a month in June, July, August and September
  • Annual Bulk Pick Up (Village Clean Up Day)
  • Christmas Tree Pick Up once a year
All in all, it’ a pretty good deal especially when you add in the Bulk Pick Up day each year.
 
Key Things You Need to Know
  • Garbage pick-up day is now Thursday.  Put garbage curbside on Wednesday night. 
  • Recycling will continue to be picked up on Fridays.
  • Each tax parcel that was picked up by the Village previously (and is not under a contract with another vendor) will now be picked up by Royal Carting Service.
A letter is being sent to the tax parcel owners.  Landlords, please notify your tenants accordingly.
 
Garbage and Recycling Carts
As part of the agreement, each tax parcel will receive one 95-gallon cart for garbage and one 65-gallon cart for recycling.  Royal Carting will deliver the new carts over the course of two Saturdays.  We will post the delivery schedule, tentatively scheduled for early-mid April, to the Village website (coldspringny.gov) and social media pages once the dates are confirmed.
 
You have the option now to reduce the container size you use to 35- or 65-gallon for garbage, and 35-gallon for recycling—at no charge. Based on experience, Royal Carting suggests getting the largest size you can accommodate to take full advantage of the service. Additional garbage and/or recycling carts are available at a cost for those who need them.  Please note that if you consistently put out more garbage or recycling than can fit in the cart you will be required to buy additional carts to accommodate your usage. There is an annual fee for additional carts. 
 
The order form to change the cart sizes or add carts is available by clicking here and must be returned to the Village Clerk by March 26th.  Only return the order form if you want to receive something other than the 95-gallon garbage cart and/or 65-gallon recycling cart.  Please include payment in full (check payable to The Village of Cold Spring) if you are ordering additional services.
 
Questions? Please contact the Village Clerk, Jeff Vidakovich, at vcsclerk@coldspringny.gov or 845-265-3611 x1.