The City of Laurel will be reducing its garbage collection days.

The city is also making preparations to go to a four-day work week for the Public Works Department.

Wanda Benson with the city’s Office of Public Relations said the city’s new changes will take effect next month.

“Due to increased fuel charges and operational costs, the City of Laurel Public Works Department will operate four days a week,” Benson announced Wednesday. “Along with this change will come a change in the garbage collection schedule.”

Residents in the city currently enjoy two days of garbage collections. However, in an effort to reduce cost, the city will begin one day a week collections in August.

According to Benson, residents whose garbage is currently picked up on Monday and Thursday will have Monday only pickup. She said those residents who are on the Tuesday and Friday schedule will have Tuesday only pickup.

Based on costs from April, May and June of last year verses the costs for the same time frame this year, Benson said, the city expects to reduce the cost of operations in the Public Works Department by approximately $61,000 with the new schedule.

“In April, May and June of 2008, fuel cost was $17,591.02 compared to the cost in April, May and June of 2007 being $9,882.06 — which shows a $7,708.96 increase in fuel cost,” she explained. “Based on a four-day work week, where we go to a two-day garbage pickup schedule instead of a four-day pickup schedule, we project a $61,568.52 savings per year.”

Under the new schedule, officials said, commercial and household trash pickup services will still be available just as before.

Benson said residents must call 601-428-6455 to schedule a pickup.

“Currently (commercial and household trash pickup) services are performed on Wednesday only,” she said. “The new plan provides services rotating from Ward to Ward, Monday - Thursday.”

While the department will go to a four-day work week, officials said, the city employees will still be working full time and earning 40 hours. The employees will just work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days.

City officials also assure residents that they will continue to receive quality service from the City of Laurel.

“Although the number of times a week that garbage will be picked up will change, you will not see a change in the quality of services,” Benson added.

The new schedule is set to begin Aug. 4.