Community Waste Solutions (CWS) will offer a drive-through garbage drop-off at the landfill starting on April 1.

The service will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Garbage will need to be dropped off in prepaid biodegradable bags, which can be bought at the landfill or stores including Haines Home, Lutak Lumber, Olerud’s and Mountain Market, said CWS manager Craig Franke at a Haines Borough Solid Waste Working Group meeting on March 24.

Only household trash will be accepted, but Franke said the “Drop & Drive” program might expand to other kinds of waste in the future.

CWS devised the service following a community survey conducted over the winter that showed demand for better access to the landfill. More than half of those surveyed said they wanted to see the landfill open more days and for longer hours. Franke said the third highest concern from community members was long wait times at the landfill.

“I think we’ve, hopefully, addressed the vast majority of those things,” Franke said.

CWS normally is open to the public Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and requires customers to weigh their waste and pay for it at the landfill. But on those days CWS now will offer an “express lane” for customers dropping off household trash in the prepaid bags.

“We believe that by pulling all of the prepaid (bags) out of the line, and letting them bypass the scale, we will shorten up the line on the days we’re open,” Franke said. “Because it’s such a quick system — literally (customers) could almost throw (bags) out of the window if they could hit the container as they’re driving — they won’t be tied up in line.”

Franke said CWS ordered 58,000 bags for the program. Six-gallon and 13-gallon bags will be sold in packs of five. Thirty-gallon ones will be sold in packs of three. The bags will cost from $3 to $12 depending on size.

Solid Waste Working Group member Tom Morphet suggested that the borough distribute bags to low-income residents and visitors, particularly those parked along the road to minimize dumping.

Derek Poinsette asked CWS about bear security given the expanded hours of the drive-through service. Franke said even though staff won’t be directly involved in garbage intake through the program, they will be at the facility during all operating hours.