Some Gwinnett Senior Citizens To Get Trash Discount

Beginning in 2013, roughly 15,000 senior citizens will receive a 15 percent discount on Gwinnett County’s mandated trash service. Additionally, owners of vacant properties will be exempt from paying the fee if the owner has a valid vacant structure or boarding up permit.

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved the changes on June 5.

Seniors eligible for the discount are those age 65 and older with an annual income below $10,000 who have filed an L3A senior homestead exemption. Seniors 65 and older with incomes up to $25,000 and disabled people who qualify for the L5A or senior school exemption discount are also eligible.

In the past year, Gwinnett County has issued approximately 1,500 vacant structure and boarding up permits. The renewable permits are valid for one year and are available for structures defined as unoccupied with no utility usage for 60 days, unfinished when the building permit expired or being held subject to foreclosure. 

The changes approved by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners also include modifications to the hauler performance appeals process and will allow quarterly billing for certain parcels such as mobile home parks in which the service fees exceed $25,000 annually. Also, commercial haulers will now be required to offer recycling beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

“These tweaks to the solid waste plan address inequities for owners of vacant properties, give qualified seniors a break and help promote recycling throughout the county,” said Solid Waste and Recovered Materials Director Tom Keith in a released statement. “Our residential customers have already recycled more than 41,000 tons of paper, metal, glass and other materials since the countywide solid waste program began two years ago.”

For more information, contact the Gwinnett County Solid Waste and Recycling Division at 770-822-7141 weekdays or by e-mail at gcsolidwaste@gwinnettcounty.com.