Council committee weighs same‑day trash put‑out and mandatory container rules as city ramps up rodent plan

Boston City Council members and city sanitation officials on Oct. 2 discussed proposals to require same‑day put‑out and pick‑up of non‑containerized residential trash and to increase containerization of commercial waste as part of the city’s effort to curb a growing rodent problem.

The hearing before the Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology, chaired by Councilor Enrique Pepin, reviewed the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP) and a range of operational, contractual and community steps city staff say are needed to shorten the time trash sits on sidewalks and reduce food sources for rats.

"The way trash is managed in our city affects every Boston resident's daily life," said Councilor Sharon Durkin, a sponsor of the docket. Durkin framed the hearing around two near‑term proposals: moving to a same‑day put‑out/pick‑up window for residential paper/bag trash and requiring commercial trash — especially food waste — to be secured in containers rather than left in bags.

John Ulrich, assistant commissioner of environmental services at the Inspectional Services Department and chair of the Boston Rodent Action Plan, described BRAP as "a coordinated citywide effort where departments are working together" to test traps, rodent‑resistant barrels, sensors and outreach.…