France/ Household waste: collection system changes for 15 communes in the Lauragais-Audois region
In 15 communes of the Castelnaudary Lauragais audois intercommunality, the way household waste is collected will change. We tell you what this means for users.
Within the Castelnaudary Lauragais audois community of communes, the household waste collection system is changing for part of the territory: that of the former Hers et Ganguise intercommunality. The decision was taken at the meeting held on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
The 15 communes concerned - Belflou, Cumiès, Fajac-la-Relenque, Gourvieille, La Louvière-Lauragais, Marquein, Mayreville, Mézerville, Molleville, Montauriol, Payra-sur-l'Hers, Peyrefitte-sur-l'Hers, Saint-Michel-de-Lanès, Sainte-Camelle and Salles-sur-l'Hers - will be abandoning their waste collection system and joining the Établissement public de coopération intercommunale (EPCI) Smictom de l'Ouest audois.
Change the truck or give up the régie
This decision was not taken at random, as Serge Ourliac, 10th vice-president of the local authority, explained to the elected members of the community council: "The skip used for this collection is reaching the end of its life. When we looked at the investment involved in replacing it, we asked ourselves whether we should continue to operate it ourselves, or transfer responsibility for collection to Smictom.
After two meetings, the mayors concerned unanimously opted for the second solution.
Responsibility for waste collection in these communes will therefore be transferred to Smictom from May1. "It's going to happen quickly, while we deal with the administrative formalities," assures Serge Ourliac.
No change for users...
What will change for local users? Nothing, answers Philippe Greffier, President of the communauté de communes, interviewed by Voix du Midi Lauragais. "Collection days will remain the same. Staff and opening hours at the Salles-sur-l'Hers waste collection center will be the same."
...which avoids a tax increase
However, this new organization is not without consequences, according to the elected representative. It avoids an increase in the household waste collection tax (taxe d'enlèvement des ordures ménagères - Teom) for the residents of the communes concerned: "We're protecting them from the high cost of changing lorries," assures Philippe Greffier.
A purchase that would have been essential if the régie system had been maintained, continues the mayor: "The truck is tired and the cost of maintenance means that collection costs more every year. We had to consider changing it. A major investment that would have weighed on the cost of collection...".
Philippe Greffier points out that the final decision as to whether or not to abandon the régie system in favor of Smictom was left to the local mayors. "I wanted them to be the ones to decide... In view of the financial stakes involved, they agreed it was better that way.
Source: actu.fr/occitanie/
