Salt Lake City sanitation hope to reduce fuel consumption as part of a citywide directive of Mayor Ralph Becker and the City Council. The city's budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year included a statement of the council's intent that the city develop a plan for reducing fuel usage in city-owned vehicles and explore the use of alternative-fuel vehicles.

Becker has set today as the deadline for city department heads to report on how they plan to reduce fuel consumption in their respective departments.

"It was a massive issue in this budget process," said Shiela Yorkin, spokeswoman for public services. "It's something we're going to be taking a really close look at and creating some more concrete strategies over the next couple of weeks."

Salt Lake City's fleet of garbage trucks collect refuse from 48,500 containers five days a week. Collection routes cover 585 miles, and the diesel trucks travel only about 2.5 miles per gallon of fuel.

One possible cost-cutting move being explored by the city is requiring customers in residential and low-traffic areas to put their garbage cans out for collection on one side of the street. Kevin Bergstrom, deputy director of public services, told the City Council last month that the move would reduce total routes in the city by 228 miles, saving the city about $24,000 a year in fuel.

Yorkin said other cost-saving proposals are in the works.

"It's a high priority," she said. The council set aside $15,000 to be used as incentives for employees to come up with ways to cut fuel costs.

Others are also looking for ways to cut fuel costs.

Salt Lake County's Special Service Sanitation District — which serves all unincorporated areas, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Taylorsville, Herriman and a portion of Murray — is keeping costs down by reducing idle time and using more efficient routes. No rate hikes are planned, and the county may purchase biodiesel or natural gas vehicles in coming years.

Provo owns its own sanitation services, and although costs have risen, the city hasn't yet had to raise fees, said Scott Peppler, deputy public works director for Provo. The city has spent $100,000 more this year than last year on fuel, he said.

However, the city's recycling program — green waste, plastics, paper and cardboard recycling — has helped cut costs for garbage pickup. More recycling yields less garbage, creating more space in the trucks and reduced landfill fees for the city, Peppler said.

Most officials in the cities the Deseret News spoke with said rising costs may force them to raise rates, but they haven't yet. Kaysville is one city that is trying to absorb the extra cost.

"Because of the increased cost, we are paying a surplus of $600 to $800 per month," said Dean Storey, Kaysville finance director.

The city has a surplus fund to pay for the increased costs, but if they continue to rise, Storey said the city may raise rates.