Cincinnati will begin making changes to its garbage collection system starting next week.
That’s when workers will begin distributing 65-gallon trash carts to about 90,000 residents. That process will take until at least August to complete.
City Council approved the collection change during the budget process in December.
City administrators updated city council on the process in a memo and during a committee meeting Tuesday. Michael Robinson is the city’s public services director.
“Everything will have to go in the trash can after October 7,” Robinson said. “We’re going to provide everyone amnesty days up-and-to that point, and then thereafter it has to be in the container or it won’t be picked-up.”
After a two week trial, residents may ask for a larger or smaller container.
Overflowing containers will not be emptied and excess trash not in the carts won’t be picked up.
Council Member Chris Seelbach said he's concerned some families may have problems complying with the new rules.
“I think there are probably scenarios where people are going to throw away legitimate garbage that is more than these containers,” Seelbach said. “And even encouraging them to compost or recycle or donate is not going to be enough. It doesn’t sound like we have a real plan right now of what happens in those scenarios.”
The city will still continue to pick-up bulky items by appointment and there’ll be amnesty periods around holidays when more trash will be collected.
Meanwhile, separate yard waste collection begins again Monday. It will be collected every other week on the same day as recycling.
Also beginning in October, the city will only be picking up trash for residential units with one to four family units. Larger apartment complexes and commercial facilities will have to contract with private companies for trash collection.
City administrators are using a multi-pronged approach to get information to residents about the changes, including a brochure.
