Folsom garbage pickup may change hands

Folsom may become the first municipality in St. Tammany to contract the Southshore’s SDT Waste and Debris for its garbage pickup.

Currently, town residents pay Coastal Waste Services $15.25 per month for a once-a-week garbage pickup. Neighboring cities pay similar prices to CWS with Covington at $15.12, Slidell at $15.09 and Mandeville at $15.05 per month for a weekly pickup.

After five years of picking up Folsom’s garbage, Coastal Waste Services’ contract recently expired, paving the way for their competitor to bid on the town’s trash pickup.

A new five-year contract with CWS will cost residents an increased bill of $17.25 per month for picking up once a week and $19 for twice a week.

SDT’s bid came in considerably lower with once-a-week trash pickup only costing residents $12.50 per month and $15.50 to pick up twice per week.

Officials from both companies were at Monday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting making their case. CWS countered SDT’s numbers with a $15 monthly bill for trash pickup twice per week.

Both companies said they would also provide debris removal along with regular garbage pickup.

The town aldermen ultimately tabled the measure to review the numbers further. They will likely vote on the new trash contract at next month’s meeting.

SDT Waste and Debris service has been operating in St. Tammany for several years, mainly providing service to subdivisions and businesses.

The majority of St. Tammany’s cities have contracts with Coastal Waste Service.