During the March 8 city council work session, Blake Leonelli from Waste Management gave a presentation on the green waste change — and its benefits to the city.

The proposal is that green waste, such as grass clippings and branches, be put in the regular black trash bin. As a bonus, existing green waste bins could be used as a second waste can.

Residents can opt out, though, and contact the city at 801-229-7000. They will come and collect the green bin. Residents who opt out will see a monthly reduction on their city bill of $6.60. Those who keep the bin and use it will save $3.40 by being charged the $6.60 rather than the $10 a month that regular black bins cost.

The green waste program started in 2006 with weekly pickups between March and November. Only 6,009 bins have been distributed in a city of nearly 100,000 people.

The green cans collected mostly grass clippings, which are not good for mulching.

The current process was to collect green waste curbside at homes, it is then delivered to the North Pointe Transfer Station where it is mixed with humanure — human manure — and the compost is sold.

Waste Management proposed the cans be picked up curbside, delivered to the transfer station and on to the city’s landfill.

They also indicated there was only one small company doing the composting and processing organic waste. If more outlets develop, they could reconsider the green waste cans.

The benefit of having it go directly to the landfill is that green waste in the landfill decomposes producing methane gas. That can then be collected and used as an alternative renewable energy.

“Orem’s landfill has a methane capture system underway,” according to Leonelli.

Making this change can add many years on to the landfill, according to Waste Management. It also saves space in the trucks.

Getting rid of the green waste pickup also allows for less trucks to be used, less wear and tear on city roads, less labor dependency and allows for year-round pick up.

On the money side of the proposition, both Waste Management and the city pointed out that the collection of green waste was being subsidized. Under the current practices green waste collection operates at a loss.

“Making the change, the costs would be completely covered,” Leonelli said during his presentation.

In order to educate the public about the change, which is a long term process the city has borrowed from Dr. Seuss. Residents will begin to see “Green Waste and Ham,” promotions throughout the city.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story wrongly stated that green waste would no longer be collected under Waste Management’s proposed change.