In Lawrence, the two most important factors driving the cost of trash collection are personnel and fuel.

Fuel costs are hard to control; each address in town needs trash service. Personnel is where the savings and efficiencies can be made. The city-appointed Solid Waste Task Force advisory board is studying options for overhauling Lawrence’s trash service, including the possibility of adding curbside recycling.

The task force is expected to investigate services that can reduce three-worker collection teams to a single driver or a two-person team. If the city invests in new automated trash trucks and the accompanying trash bins that would be needed, the system has the potential to save the city and residents serious money over the long term.

The city charges households about $15 a month for its trash service, which does not include any curbside recycling service. Some city leaders say a new system that would include curbside recycling would cost less than $20 per month.

Also under consideration is a “variable-rate pricing system” where residents would be charged different rates depending on how much trash they generate. Participating in a city-operated recycling program could reduce the amount of trash a household creates and possibly the amount the household pays for trash pickup. Such a system could encourage more people to recycle. It also would respond to the complaints some residents who produce one bag of garbage a week have about paying the same price for trash service as their neighbors who put out mounds of garbage. That only seems fair.

City commissioners ultimately will make the final decision about changes to the city’s trash system. A date hasn’t been set for commissioners to begin their debate on the subject, but the task force is expected to work at least through January.

It would be wise for the task force to study all options, especially those that can save money while maintaining or improving service.