Council adds option for residents to buy second trash barrel for $90 in ordinance change

Springfield City Council approved an amendment to the city’s solid-waste ordinance on July 14 to allow residents to request a second city-provided trash barrel for an annual charge of $90. The change aligns ordinance language with rules the department already adopted and replaces the need for frequent extra-bag stickers for some households.

DPW staff said the second-barrel option is intended to simplify billing and collection. City officials noted the municipal solid-waste program is subsidized by the general fund; the $90 fee will offset some costs but is well below the rough per-household cost of collection staff and disposal. City staff estimated the full per-resident cost at roughly $240–$260 per year, and they said the second-barrel fee is not intended to cover the entire cost.

Policy and enforcement points: The ordinance caps city collection by household type: single-family households and small multi-family (up to three units) remain eligible for city collection; larger properties must use private waste haulers. Staff said that complaints about overflowing trash at certain businesses or addresses should be routed to code enforcement because businesses are required to contract private haulers.

Committee and next steps: The council approved the ordinance change; staff will implement the administrative processes for residents to request and pay for a second barrel. Councilors asked DPW to monitor uptake and revenue implications; several suggested staff report back after an initial period with data on requests and any impact on revenues and on litter in neighborhoods.

Speakers quoted or cited in this item spoke during the July 14 meeting.