Well, it was worth a try. We did our best to warn Clark County against capitulating to its longtime trash franchisee, Republic Services, and that company’s request for a trio of "pilot programs," ostensibly fielded to increase recycling in the valley.

But no: With the exception of Commissioners Chris Giunchigliani and Tom Collins (and with Commissioner Bruce Woodbury absent) the board Tuesday approved the programs, all of which were recommended by something called the Southern Nevada Recycling Advisory Commission.

Actually, the recycling advisory commission lived up to its name, given that at least one of the pilot programs was itself recycled from last year, when it was voted down due to overwhelming opposition from residents. That’s green politics, baby!

But, just as we predicted, it was back on the agenda, and with less fanfare this time around, it got the nod.

There are three plans to be tested. In one, the trash will still be picked up twice a week (the current requirement under Republic’s franchise agreement with Clark County) and recycling pickups will be made every other week. In another, trash will be picked up twice a week, with recycling picked up once a week. And in the third, trash will only be picked up once a week, and recycling will be picked up weekly, too.

That last option was the one that riled most people up last summer, since malodorous trash sitting in your garage for an entire week in the baking summer heat is not something most people want to experience. But we suspect that’s the option that Republic wants most of all. So, our prediction is that this is the one that will be found successful once these "pilot programs" land.

Proof? Giunchigliani and Collins wanted to drop that option, given the outrage that greeted it a year ago. But the majority of the commission decided otherwise. Big surprise.

Now, you may read the Review-Journal’s story on the subject (linked above) and get the idea that Republic is simply an innocent bystander in this whole process. Republic Area President Bob Coyle even says, "We committed to the county to do whatever is necessary to help them with the pilot programs," Coyle said.

Oh, really? Well, that’s awfully nice of him, isn’t it? Until you realize that Republic is a driving force in the debate, and was represented the recycling task force, too. As Coyle also said, "we are in business to make profit."

Ah, but the business they’re in is a franchise agreement granted by local governments, which means getting the best deal for the public should be the county’s goal, not ensuring Republic makes money. Reducing twice-weekly trash pickups will undeniably help the company make money, but will also not be in the public’s best interests. Moreover, it’s a significant change in the franchise agreement that Republic sought from the county.

The solution is simple: Re-open the franchise agreement, and put out an RFP to other trash companies to see if they can get taxpayers a better deal. Maybe Brand X can do twice weekly trash pickups and weekly recycling? Who knows, until you ask?

Which brings us to the unfortunate last paragraph of the R-J’s story: "Commissioners said that the franchise contract with Republic will not need to be reopened at this point."

Oh, it won’t? How convenient. For Republic.