Letter: Vail Town Council’s single hauler trash proposal
I’m writing to follow up on the most recent Town Council meeting regarding the potential move to a single-hauler trash system in Vail. I want to express my strong opposition to this initiative, my unwavering support for Vail Valley Waste and its owners, Ted and Susanne Johnson, but most importantly my deep concerns of the town weighing in on a free market enterprise.
It is both disappointing and frustrating to see the town considering such a heavy-handed approach that interferes with a functioning free market. Vail Valley Waste is a locally-owned and operated company whose revenues are reinvested directly into the community it serves. Ted and Susanne are not only business owners but lifelong residents of this valley — deeply rooted in the fabric of Vail and active, generous contributors to its well-being through a wide range of philanthropic efforts. Their commitment to service, community, and the environment is evident in everything they do. Vail Valley Waste has served this town with integrity, responsiveness, and a genuine care that simply cannot be replicated.
Waste Management is a publicly traded company headquartered in Texas. The idea that the town would even consider handing over our town’s waste services to an out-of-state conglomerate at the expense of a proven, locally-rooted partner is nothing short of shocking.
Equally telling is the fact that out of more than 60 letters submitted ahead of the last meeting, not one criticized Vail Valley Waste’s service. On the contrary, the community has made it abundantly clear that we support this local business and value having a choice in our service providers.
Moreover, the notion that the Vail Police Department would somehow become responsible for fielding customer service complaints about trash service is, frankly, absurd. Our police officers have far more pressing responsibilities than mediating disputes over garbage bins.
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I urge you to abandon the single-hauler initiative and allow the residents and businesses of Vail to continue choosing the service providers that best meet their needs. Let the market — and the community — decide. Supporting Vail Valley Waste means supporting a company that lives here, gives here, and truly cares about this town.
Douglas Smith
West Vail
