The Town of Hilton Head Island made a rather unwise choice, it would seem, when it made the odd decision to contract with a single trash hauler for the island. Without competition, this service has little or no incentive to excel. Why should it even try? It has a contract.

I used Republic Waste Services a few years back and then switched to another hauler because of poor performance. Last year, Hilton Head Plantation decreed that all residents would have to use Republic -- no choice in the matter. I considered the lack of choice to be a form of restraint of trade and still do. And when the town made the same decision, it still appeared to be restraint of trade.

And now Hilton Head is unhappy with Republic's service.

My question is: What were they thinking in the first place? Take away competition and you get what you get. Sometimes it's not worth it to give a contract to the lowest bidder.

Suzy Stetson

Hilton Head Island