ASPA officials questioned about trash collection services

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The final hearing of the Senate before adjourning at the end of the First Regular Session of the 39th Legislature centered on the operations of the American Samoa Power Authority.

The main focus of the hearing was ASPA’s solid waste or garbage collection services.

According to background information provided by ASPA CEO to KHJ News ASPA has contracted 6 different companies for garbage collecton. There are two types of contracts: One is for labor only where ASPA provides the trucks and equipment for garbage collection and the contractor provides the labor and the other contract has the company providing labor plus equipment.

For contracts where ASPA provides the trucks for trash collection, ASPA also provides a driver as the trucks are government property. Trash collection for the east side is carried out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while trash collection for the west side is on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The Senate ASPA Committee, chaired by Senator Ponausuia Luce Ponausuia, a former ASPA employee, questioned ASPA CEO Wallon Young, Ryan Tuatoo, Customer Service Manager and atalii matai Elisara Su’a, Manager of ASPA’s Solid Waste and Waste Water Division.

Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said he had been asked by Paramount Chief Mauga to query why ASPA is not contracting garbage collection out to the private sector. It was explained that ASPA acquired suitable and safe rear end loaders and dumpsters for garbage collection as in the past contractors were using flatbeds to collect the trash , and workers would sit on the trash. This was unhealthy and unsafe.

ASPA purchased the dumpsters and loaders using a grant from the Department of Interior.

The ASPA CEO said when the trash collection was farmed out completely to local companies, there were so many complaints from the public about the service.

The contracts for garbage collection is for 2 years with an option for renewal.

According to Young after three renewals the contract would be rebid. He said that the current contracts would be ending towards the end of the year.

ASPA collects about $3.6 million a year from the fee charged for garbage collection.

According to Young, ASPA pays $70,000 a month for trash collection using dumpsters. But if they discover that the contractor has not picked up trash on some days, the payment would be reduced.

ASPA does not charge a fee for collection of white goods such as refrigerators and the like from residences. It does bill for this service for commercial customers and the government.

Senator Utu Sila Poasa, who used to be one of the ASPA contractors for garbage collection but missed out on the current contracts, gave this observation…

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When asked if ASPA could lease their rear end loaders and dumpsters to local companies Young said the Department of Interior would not allow this.