The city of Sacramento has the worst and the most expensive residential garbage service in the region.

High rates are undisputed. As for worse service, just look at the mounds of tinder-dry garden waste pilling up on city streets now. Consider that Sacramento is the only jurisdiction in the region that allows illegally dumped garbage to sit for three weeks before it's collected.

Given that, the city council was right this week to ask for more information before it gives final approval for the sale of the Fruitridge Road transfer station from one private company to another. Currently, the city has an exclusive contract to dispose of all its garbage and recyclables at that facility. If it sells, the city's 20 year disposal contract transfers with it.

Other garbage haulers complain, when and if the city privatizes garbage collection (something being seriously discussed), the new owner of the transfer station will have an unfair advantage when it comes time to bid.

I don't know if that's true. I just know something's rotten with the City of Sacramento's garbage service. Council members need to ask why before they give the go-ahead on a garbage deal we will be stuck with for the next 20 years.

Ginger Rutland writes for The Sacramento Bee opinion pages.