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Trash Talk: Approved Amendment Could See Garbage Collection Fees Rai

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  • Trash Talk: Approved Amendment Could See Garbage Collection Fees Rai

    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
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