To the editor:

Mario Cuomo, past Democratic governor of New York, has stated, “It is not a government’s obligation to provide services, but to see that they are provided.”

The city of Lawrence has had a Solid Waste Task Force meeting regularly for almost a year. As an attendee at most of the meetings, I have come to the conclusion the task force should make a recommendation to the Lawrence City Commission to privatize the solid waste operation of the city. The City Commission should put out a request for a proposal to have an outside vendor assume all municipal hauling operations.

Currently, the city charges residents, as part of their utility bill, $14.55 for once-a-week trash pickup plus once-a-week yard waste pickup for about 10 months of the year. The Solid Waste Task Force has been considering — and I predict it will recommend to the Lawrence City Commission — that it institute a mandatory recycling function that will add about $5 to $7 per month to the utility bill. Presently there are several vendors who would be glad to bid for the municipal hauling and recycling of the city. I visited with one yesterday who said he would bid $13 per month for the right to be the vendor of choice for the city and would provide the same services.  Would you like to pay almost $20 or $13 per month for your trash, including recycling?

You do the math.