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TRASH TALK: APPROVED AMENDMENT COULD SEE GARBAGE COLLECTION FEES RAISED FIVE FOLD
Karine Ionesyan
ArmeniaNow
Social | 30.09.10 | 16:12
If a Government-approved draft law passes reading in the National
Assembly, the cost of garbage collection could increase by five times
for residents of Yerevan.
Currently, each resident is charged only about 55 cents a month for
the service. Yet in August, the Government of Armenia approved to amend
the law 'On Garbage Removal and Sanitary Cleaning'. Under the amended
law, the amount of trash-collection tariffs could be determined by
community administration officials, based on whether the consumer
is a business or an ordinary resident. The change would give more
leeway to local heads, a long-term goal in the de-centralization of
Armenia's government structure.
Under such a new scheme it is considered that the fee would rise
to 1,000 drams (about $3) per resident. And while the utility may
still seem cheap by some standards, it is nonetheless a significant
hike for families on budgets. (It is worth noting, too, that current
garbage collection service is sub-standard by almost any measure.)
The total amount of bills for a seven-member family of the Abrahamyans,
for example, having 200,000 drams ($552) monthly income, is about
40,000 drams ($110), of which 1,400 drams (about $4) is charged for
trash collection. If the garbage bill rose, they would have to pay
7,000 drams ($20) monthly. This, too, after recent hikes in water
and gas prices.
Family matriarch Irina Galstyan, 59, tells ArmeniaNow that such a
dramatic increase would have a severe impact on families such as hers.
She says a drastic price increase - meant to subsidize better trash
service -- would lead to worse sanitary conditions.
"The person who is not able to pay, will not pay in case the bill is
raised, either, and the amount of garbage will increase," she says.
Predictably, the proposed amendment has been met with displeasure
by residents. But it also has opposition in the National Assembly,
including Hovhannes Margaryan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee
on Territorial Management and Local Self-Government. He and some
colleagues have argued that the maximum collection fee should be 400
drams (about $1.10) per inhabitant - (twice the current amount).
Assembly deputies who oppose the draft law were asked to submit
their written suggestions for further discussion during the next
committee session.
From: A. Papazian
Karine Ionesyan
ArmeniaNow
Social | 30.09.10 | 16:12
If a Government-approved draft law passes reading in the National
Assembly, the cost of garbage collection could increase by five times
for residents of Yerevan.
Currently, each resident is charged only about 55 cents a month for
the service. Yet in August, the Government of Armenia approved to amend
the law 'On Garbage Removal and Sanitary Cleaning'. Under the amended
law, the amount of trash-collection tariffs could be determined by
community administration officials, based on whether the consumer
is a business or an ordinary resident. The change would give more
leeway to local heads, a long-term goal in the de-centralization of
Armenia's government structure.
Under such a new scheme it is considered that the fee would rise
to 1,000 drams (about $3) per resident. And while the utility may
still seem cheap by some standards, it is nonetheless a significant
hike for families on budgets. (It is worth noting, too, that current
garbage collection service is sub-standard by almost any measure.)
The total amount of bills for a seven-member family of the Abrahamyans,
for example, having 200,000 drams ($552) monthly income, is about
40,000 drams ($110), of which 1,400 drams (about $4) is charged for
trash collection. If the garbage bill rose, they would have to pay
7,000 drams ($20) monthly. This, too, after recent hikes in water
and gas prices.
Family matriarch Irina Galstyan, 59, tells ArmeniaNow that such a
dramatic increase would have a severe impact on families such as hers.
She says a drastic price increase - meant to subsidize better trash
service -- would lead to worse sanitary conditions.
"The person who is not able to pay, will not pay in case the bill is
raised, either, and the amount of garbage will increase," she says.
Predictably, the proposed amendment has been met with displeasure
by residents. But it also has opposition in the National Assembly,
including Hovhannes Margaryan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee
on Territorial Management and Local Self-Government. He and some
colleagues have argued that the maximum collection fee should be 400
drams (about $1.10) per inhabitant - (twice the current amount).
Assembly deputies who oppose the draft law were asked to submit
their written suggestions for further discussion during the next
committee session.
From: A. Papazian