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Council advances ordinance to require city‑approved trash and recycling carts, asks staff to specify enforcement penalties
Summary
Council approved first reading of ordinance 2207 requiring uniform, city‑approved recycling and trash carts to facilitate automated collection; councilors asked staff to return for second reading with clear penalties and enforcement steps.
Madison Heights City Council on Sept. 29 approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 2207, a revision to the municipal code that would require all residential solid waste and recycling to be placed in city‑approved carts to enable automated collection.
The Department of Public Services told council the move is intended to improve collection efficiency, reduce worker injuries and increase compliance with regional recycling standards. The ordinance would amend chapters and sections in Title 5 (chapter 14) to mandate the use of uniform receptacles for residential garbage and recycling.
"The city has moved to standardized waste collection practices to improve efficiency, safety, reduce cost, and increase compliance with regional recycling standards," the DPS director said in the staff report.
Several council members supported the program but asked for clearer enforcement language. "What are the specific penalties if somebody fails to use those carts?" asked Councilman Fleming. The presenter said code enforcement will initially issue warnings and then follow up with code‑enforcement violation tickets, and that noncompliant material set out for collection would not be picked up by crews. Council members asked staff to return with specific fee and fine schedules ahead of the second reading.
Councilman Soltis moved to table the ordinance briefly but withdrew the motion after staff and council agreed to include enforcement details in the second‑reading packet. The council approved first reading and scheduled second and final reading for Oct. 13.
