Resident urges Lima Council to enforce bagging, repair trash containers and notify landlords about litter

Dave Smith, who identified himself as a First Ward resident at 515 Ashwood Avenue, used the meeting’s privilege of the floor to raise ongoing concerns about garbage collection in Lima.

Smith told councilors he had reviewed a bid tab sheet and said collection practices and equipment are contributing to litter, citing windblown material and containers “that don't have lids” and others that “have big holes in the side” and need replacement. He said many residents are not bagging their trash and that the combination of loose trash and damaged hoppers creates the problem.

Smith recommended the city use its landlord registry to notify property owners — he said more than 60% of houses in the city are rentals — and suggested attaching notices to water bills. He told the council, “If we would take our landlord registry... we could very quickly send out letters saying, hey, this needs to be addressed.”

Councilors acknowledged the comments during the consent and communications portions of the meeting; no formal action or ordinance addressing Smith’s proposals was taken at this session.

The speaker named specific staff he had contacted and indicated some issues previously raised had been addressed; he urged a coordinated effort of resident compliance and equipment repairs to reduce litter.