Staunton unveils phased refuse modernization: new city-issued cans, yard-waste opt-in and bag tags; rollout begins in March

Staunton Public Works on Jan. 9 outlined a phased refuse modernization program that will provide city-issued wheeled carts, introduce a monthly yard-waste pickup by opt-in, establish a bag-tag system for extra trash, split bulky (“heavy trash”) collection between spring and fall and pilot solar-powered self-compacting public bins.

Public Works project lead David Irvin said the city secured ARPA funding and encumbered $890,000 for the initiative. The largest single purchase is the rollout of residential cans: staff ordered roughly 12,000 cans with estimated unit prices near $45–$54 depending on size, and vendor delivery timelines indicate a target distribution date of March 3. Residents were asked during a prior survey to indicate preferred bin sizes; those who did not respond will be assigned a 95‑gallon cart by default but may request a different size after delivery.

Key features:

- Residential service: one city-provided cart per residential unit (choice of 45-gallon or 95-gallon…