[Dylan16807]

> An entity that can rig the courts, the laws, and the regulations to its favor has an advantage.

You really think the garbage collection department has that much influence?

[mindslight]

Yes. For one, they've obtained a position where you are forced to patronize them, even if you would choose to not utilize their services. For two, they generally get themselves excepted from local regulations (eg noise ordinances) for essentially convenience purposes.

Having said that, "privatized" trash collection creates its own type of shithole - whether it's a single vendor obtaining a city's exclusive contract for politicians' short-term balance sheet gains, or many competing services that result in visits by multiple trash trucks every single day.

[Dylan16807]

> For one, they've obtained a position where you are forced to patronize them, even if you would choose to not utilize their services.

If a private service is being chosen, they have that same position. This is not an advantage that government-run pickup has over private pickup.

> For two, they generally get themselves excepted from local regulations (eg noise ordinances) for essentially convenience purposes.

I'd expect similar laws to be in play no matter who is chosen, is that unrealistic?

[stcredzero]

If a private service is being chosen, they have that same position. This is not an advantage that government-run pickup has over private pickup.

Unless, the local government actually structures a market and gives people a choice. Then competition can cause the service to clean up its act.

[stcredzero]

You really think the garbage collection department has that much influence?

By itself, no, but perhaps the politicians behind the political deals to change the garbage collection department do.