There should be consequences: City at fault, too, for not assessing penalties against Republic Services for its failings

Trash talking is not just heard in the realm of sports.
It’s also directed at our community, this place we call home, too often.
Of course, more often than not, it’s the roads lately that are the subject of most of the bad mouthing.
However, for far too long, our city has reeked of a trash hauling service that often stinks.
Yes, we know Republic Services is having trouble recruiting and retaining drivers and so on.
Forgive us for sounding cold-blooded, but we’re not interested in this business’ operational problems, staffing shortfalls and what have you.
Our concern is Republic Services is into year two of another contract with the city to regularly collect its residents trash and recycling.
And though it’s nothing new, this company’s continued failure to abide by that contract is messier than ever.
What is almost as worrisome as  Republic’s inconsistent service is although this contract stipulates penalties for a host of reasons, none have yet to be levied.
That’s right, in  year two of the latest contract with Republic, not one penalty has been assessed.
Not once has collection of residential waste happened before 6 a.m.
Not once, mind you, was there an incident of failure to collect spillage.
Not once did Republic ever fail to collect waste or recyclables within one business day of notification of missed service.
Not once was service missed on one block of one street, either. Not once.
No, the city should not apply this penalty without questions for every complaint it receives about Republic.
But it’s safe to say that even if these $50 and $100 penalties were levied sparingly, the city would be a tad richer and Republic a lot wiser.
As for that $5,000 joint bank account Republic is obligated to maintain with the city, it would be long gone.
And based loosely on complaints we hear and know ourselves — and we suspect City Council members and the city manager hear, too —  Republic would be in debt to the city for about, oh say, $20,000, if these penalties were levied.
We’re not prone  to exaggeration either, because, like our roads, this slipshod service is apparent to everyone.
The city manager needs to start meting out these penalties immediately and residents need to make him aware of these complaints.
The only thing that’s going to get Republic’s attention and inspire it to do better is consequences. Talk, which is cheap, just won’t do it, not even trash talk.
We recommend the tooth-and-nail approach — with every available means — to enforce this contract.
Especially the teeth part.