Many Baffled by New Waste Container Fees

The recently approved city ordinance that will charge households a fee for extra waste containers continues to confuse many residents.

After mailing 90,000 notices in April about the new fees, so many calls flooded the Bureau of Sanitation’s hotline that it was temporarily forced to shut down.

The city sent out a second notice with Department of Water and Power statements to help sort out some of the confusion, according to David Mays, public information officer for the Public Works Division.

The new ordinance permits every residence to have one black 60-gallon container for trash, a green 60-gallon container for yard trimmings and a yellow recycling box--all at no charge.

Beginning July 1, residents who want more capacity will have to pay a monthly fee--$5 for every 30 gallons of additional trash and $2.50 for every 30 gallons of additional yard clippings.

The Bureau of Sanitation can provide residents with 90-gallon bins, for which they will have to pay for the additional 30 gallons of capacity, or a second 60-gallon container, for which the fee is $10 for the black bin and $5 for the green.

According to Mays, the department recommends the 90-gallon containers because they offer the greatest convenience during trash collection and take up less room in garages.

For more information on the city’s waste removal programs, call (800) 773-CITY.