BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington has come up with a cost-saving solution to what it has long called a ‘cadillac’ service.

The city is scaling back brush and bulk waste pick up to every other week instead of weekly- starting June 1.

The city has been looking for ways to save money in the bulk waste program which city officials say is costing the city millions of dollars a year.

Brush pickup will still be free, and the first endloader bucket of bulk will be free. Additional buckets will remain $25.

Bloomington Public Works Director Jim Karch said he’s heard mixed reviews from the public.

“I can’t say every single person has said ‘Wow, thank you so much,’ but they understand that we have to find some way to bridge this gap,” Karch said. “This is a realistic, feasible way to do that.”

City officials say it’s too early for certain projections, but they hope the move could save the solid waste fund up $500,000 a year.

Karch said trimming brush and bulk waste is the first of what might be several steps the city could take to try to cut spending in the city’s solid waste program.

“We are hoping this is seen as a fair way to try to bridge that funding gap we have in solid waste,” Karch said.

Karch said the city is exploring route efficiencies and how it can better spend on personnel, equipment and gas.

The city has released a collection schedule map on its website www.cityblm.org.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].