Trenton Sets July 1 Enforcement Date For Trash Can Program

Trenton residents have until July 1 to get in line with the city’s new trash can rules before enforcement begins.

The Trenton City Commission set the date during its May 11 meeting, moving the city’s standardized trash collection program from the education phase toward formal enforcement after months of distributing city-issued cans and warning residents about improper containers and trash left outside approved cans.

Mayor Alex Case said the city has continued to see problems despite repeated public notices about what can and cannot be placed at the curb.

“We are still seeing a lot of garbage set out loosely,” Case said.

The city launched the program earlier this year as part of an effort to clean up residential garbage collection, reduce loose trash and control rising disposal costs. Under the rules, each household receives one city-issued green trash can.Garbage must be bagged and placed inside the can with the lid closed. Cans also must be set apart with enough space for collection equipment to reach them.

The city contracts with Nooga Waste for residential garbage pickup. Trash left outside approved containers, placed beside the can or stacked on top of the can will not be collected. The program is limited to household garbage, not bulk items such as furniture, tires or other large debris.

Case said residents who need more capacity still have an option to rent an additional can through the city. He said only a small number of extra cans had been rented so far, despite the city making that option available.

“If you have an additional can and you don’t have the city seal with the extra can on it and permit it through the office, it won’t get picked up,” Case said.

The mayor said the city has been receiving weekly photos from the garbage contractor showing problem areas. He has also asked the street department to help identify locations where residents continue to place trash improperly.

“We have been watching a few,” he said. “And we are going to address those this month or next month.”

The city plans to continue pushing information to residents before the deadline, including through social media, the city website and The Dade County Sentinel.

“I think we have ample time to get compliance,” Case said.

The July 1 date marks the next step in a program city officials have said is meant to make trash collection cleaner, safer and fairer for residents who follow the rules. Case has previously said loose bags often attract animals, scatter trash through neighborhoods and increase the city’s costs when residents place non-household items at the curb.

Commissioners also reviewed monthly department reports for April.

Police Commissioner Mike Norris reported that the Trenton Police Department answered 233 calls for service, conducted 732 business checks, handled 19 animal complaints, responded to four domestic disturbance calls, two trespassing calls, 18 suspicious person or activity calls and worked 21 traffic crashes. Officers also conducted 167 traffic stops, resulting in 44 citations. Citations included three for speeding, one seat belt violation, one following-too-closely violation, eight traffic lane violations, four DUIs, one equipment violation, four driver’s license violations, two hands-free law violations, 11 registration requirement violations, seven insurance violations, one open container violation and one violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.

Parks and Animal Control Commissioner Terry Powell reported that the community center was rented for 67 hours in April, recreational softball was active during the month and work continued to get the city pool ready for its May 23 opening. Senior Swim is scheduled to begin June 3.

Fire and Utility Commissioner Lucretia Houts reported that the fire department had 96 total calls in April, including 13 fire-related calls, three accidents, 62 medical calls, three standby calls and 15 calls that were dispatched and canceled en route or required no response. 

Houts also reported that the sewer department handled 28 underground locates, five emergency locates, seven sewer calls and repaired two manholes.

The street department report, given in Street Commissioner Monda Wooten’s absence, showed 49 work orders completed in April. Crews also picked up brush, handled regular mowing, edged sidewalks, patched potholes, sprayed sidewalk cracks and hauled fill dirt from the shop yard.