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 at rollout); existing fees remain unchanged for the base service. Residents who need a second cart can request one; if approved, the recurring charge will be $12 per month. Staff said the second-cart charge reflects recurring collection costs and the cost of the cart itself.

- Yard-waste opt-in: a voluntary program that will provide a single 95‑gallon tan‑lid cart per opt-in address with monthly collection (first Wednesdays). Customers may opt in online or by phone. There will be a $50 refundable deposit for the yard-waste cart; there is no additional recurring subscription fee for the service at rollout. Yard waste will be taken to the landfill compost/brush area for grinding and possible resale as mulch.

- Bag tags for extra trash: a pay‑as‑you‑go sticker (estimated $1 per tag) will allow collection of extra bags when needed; staff will distribute a small number of tags free with the cart rollout to ease the transition.

- Heavy trash: the city will move from a single two‑week spring bulky‑item window to one week in spring and one week in fall to spread workload and reduce peak strain.

- Public bins pilot: the city purchased 16 solar-powered, self-compacting public litter/recycling bins for high‑use locations; each can roughly triple capacity through automatic compaction and features wrap panels for local artwork.

Irvin said the rollout is phased to avoid delaying the program for complex downtown and central-business-district (CBD) properties, where space, aesthetics and ownership patterns complicate a one-size-fits-all approach. “The central business district…we are kicking that out as a future phase,” he said, noting staff will continue to serve the CBD under existing policies until tailored solutions are developed.

Irvin emphasized a transition period to correct mis-deliveries and let residents evaluate their true waste volume. He said the new carts will be marked “trash only” (green body, green lid) and that non-city carts will not be serviced. For residents who already compost or mulch at home, the yard-waste opt-in is optional.

On timing and cost, Irvin said ARPA funds paid most startup costs, including trucks’ hydraulic tippers and the pilot public bins; annual software and route-optimization costs will be paid from the environmental fund operating budget, and staff will provide exact software subscription figures during implementation. Irvin told council the department will provide public communications and educational materials at cart delivery, and that pilot testing of route and software integration is scheduled for Jan. 28.

Councilors asked several operational questions, including whether a 64‑gallon cart (the mid-size many residents currently use) could be supplied; staff said special-order options remain possible but the ordered quantities are already committed. Irvin said crews plan to begin delivering carts in early March and that rollout details, FAQs and online opt-in forms will appear on the city website ahead of delivery.