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Fenton adopts temporary yard‑waste limits; rejects immediate paid curbside can program
Summary
Fenton’s committee approved a temporary revision limiting yard‑waste bag pickups and asked staff to phase and publicize leaf-collection districts; board members discussed but declined to adopt Waste Connections’ paid container program now.
Fenton aldermen voted Sept. 4 to adopt temporary revisions to the city’s yard-waste policy that limit curbside collections and give the public-works director discretion to alter or suspend service because of staffing, equipment or weather. The board also discussed a proposal from Waste Connections to add a third curbside container for yard waste at an estimated $7 per household per month, but members said they were not ready to pursue that option.
Under the temporary change the board approved, residents will be limited to a maximum of 10 yard‑waste bags per collection and public-works staff may delay or suspend pickup during high volumes, equipment outages, limited manpower or adverse weather. The committee approved the redlined policy in a motion by Alderman Jane Brightshaft, seconded by Alderman Mazurang; the motion carried unanimously.
Public-works staff said the city’s regular leaf season collection is scheduled to begin the week of Oct. 13 and run through the second week of December. Staff proposed breaking the city into districts (three suggested) and rotating collection so crews can complete defined areas rather than trying to hit the whole city every week.
Committee members said they prefer to try neighborhood rotation and recruitment of seasonal staff before committing to the Waste Connections container program, which Waste Connections estimated would cost the city about $126,000 for 2026 (about $7 per household per month) and would require a three‑year extension of the refuse/recycling contract to 2030. Members called the container idea a “last resort” and noted the proposal would not help this fall because it could not be implemented until 2026.
The board also instructed staff to prepare public outreach explaining the temporary limits and to investigate staggered district schedules so residents know when leaf pickup is expected. Staff will return with staffing updates and a proposed district schedule before leaf season starts.
