Bell : Free Trash Pickup Curtailed
For the first time in six years, some residents will be required to pay for their own refuse collection--traditionally paid for by the city.
The City Council approved an urgency ordinance last week that would send trash bills to residents on property with three units or more effective Jan. 1. The city will continue to pay for trash pickup at owner-occupied single-family and two-family dwellings.
Since 1980, the city has paid for refuse collection for all residents who lived on property with five units or less, at an annual cost of $337,000. Residents who lived on property with six units or more had to pay for their own trash pickup.
The urgency ordinance--which will save the city $95,729 a year--will allow the city to hire three more police officers, City Administrator Byron Woosley said.
“Budgets are tighter now. We need more police officers so we had to make changes in the trash bill,” Woosley said.
The city contracts with Cudahy-based System Disposal Service Inc. Those residents no longer eligible for free trash pickup will pay $6.32 a month.
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