Questions that got tossed in the trash

Thomas B. Krasky, Las Vegas

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 | 2:01 a.m.

In response to the letter “Stop the whining; start recycling,” please note that the Clark County residents who are “whining” about Republic Services recycling plan are not concerned about recycling, they are “whining” about several major questions and answers that are missing in this debacle.

One: Republic Services is asking for a major change in its long-term contract. Why hasn’t the Clark County Commission put this contract out for bid since it is a new program that Republic is requesting?

The “whining” relates to customers who don’t care what trash pickup rates are in Phoenix, as one commissioner stated as an example. That’s like comparing the prices of houses in New York City with the price of houses in Las Vegas. Competition breeds better service and a better price. Why not bid the job out?

Two: The “whiners” would like to see the numbers, obtained from an auditor, on how much money Republic will save on the elimination of 50-plus pickups a year. In addition, and most importantly, how much money does Republic earn from the sale of the recyclables in the marketplace?

Three: The “whiners” can’t believe that the litmus test for the change is, as one commissioner suggested, that it’s no big deal. What a reason for making a change. How about asking how much money the company will be making with the change and bidding the job out to see what kind of prices other competitors would charge for the same service?

I suddenly forgot, Republic makes big donations to the commissioners’ campaigns. I think that’s the litmus test.