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Norwalk council approves changes to solid-waste ordinance to standardize bins, end opt-outs in Fourth Taxing District
Summary
Council approved updates to Chapter 94 on April 22 to match an incoming seven-year vendor contract: standardized automated bins, no opt-out inside the Fourth Taxing District, and a restriction of city collection to residential properties with four units or fewer.
The Norwalk Common Council on April 22 approved revisions to Chapter 94 of the city code governing solid waste collection and disposal to reflect the terms of a new seven-year contract with a vendor that takes effect July 1.
Council Member Shanahan moved the ordinance change and Vanessa Valadares, the city's chief of operations and public works, explained the key changes: the city will deliver standardized automated solid-waste bins (black and red) and will stop permitting an "opt-out" for households inside the Fourth Taxing District; collection will be limited to residential properties of four units or fewer, using the same definition as planning and zoning. Valadares said automated collection will improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Valadares said the opt-out change addresses cases where properties were recorded as opting out for tax purposes but crews still collected their bins. She said the standardized bins enable the vendor to use automated trucks and that public outreach will begin in May with bin distribution and informational materials.
She also clarified options for properties no longer eligible for city collection: properties with more than four units will be considered commercial and must either bring refuse to the city's transfer station or hire a private hauler.
The council discussed the change briefly; Council President Smith asked for clarification on how properties with four units would be treated. Valadares confirmed properties with exactly four units will continue to receive city collection; properties above that will be treated as commercial. After discussion, the motion carried with no recorded opposition.
The ordinance change implements operational details needed for a July 1 contract start and includes a planned public-outreach effort and distribution of new bins in May. Council members thanked Valadares and her staff for moving quickly to align the ordinance with the vendor contract.
