For some time people in Selma have been talking a lot of trash, as in garbage collections.

Many feel the city should move to outsource its garbage collections as soon as possible.

The argument is that many municipalities have chosen to leave garbage collections to the private sector with much success.

Others believe the privatization of garbage collections might simply result in more trash. Those who oppose outsourcing garbage collections believe that if people continue to ignore their garbage bills, as they have with trash collections under city control, the selected company will simply ignore those clients leaving rubbish in the streets.

Under city garbage collections, trash was often picked up whether the balance was paid or not. This resulted in around $1 million in unpaid bills.

Perhaps the best solution that has been suggested is for the city to continue to offer trash collections with more incentive for residents to stay on top of their bills.

In years past, the city tied garbage collection fees to water bills. If residents ignored their trash bill, they were not only left with a yard full of trash, they were denied water service.

Unpaid bills demand repercussions. It isn’t difficult for people who choose to ignore garbage collection fees to work around a trash-filled yard. However, reverting to a lifestyle without water would likely motivate delinquent account holders to loosen their pockets.

Many municipalities have made the move to privatization of trash service. But few face the amount of delinquent accounts that exist in Selma.

In the long run, it seems forced accountability, not outsourcing, is the only true solution.