Warr Acres approves phased move to polycarts, raises residential trash rate to $36

Warr Acres council voted to begin a phased transition of residential sanitation from labor‑intensive rear‑loader curb pickup toward automated side‑loading trucks and city‑issued polycarts. Public Works staff told the council the current rear‑loader system is running a structural deficit driven by labor, landfill and fuel costs; staff recommended a multi‑year phase‑in that would buy carts (city to pay for first cart per household, additional carts charged to residents), retrofit some rear loaders as backups, and finance or appropriate capital for new trucks and tippers.

Council discussed service frequency (moving from twice‑weekly bag pickup to once‑weekly cart pickup), accessibility for residents with mobility needs, bulky‑waste handling and options to preserve staff employment through phased conversion. On a motion and second, the council approved beginning a slow transition toward side‑loading trucks and polycarts and instructed staff to include transition costs in next year’s budget planning.

Separately, council debated and adopted an emergency ordinance to raise the monthly residential trash fee from $24 to $36 to bring the sanitation enterprise closer to break‑even this fiscal year. The ordinance also raised the per‑extra‑bag pickup fee from $2.50 to $5 and adjusted multi‑dwelling and small commercial can rates (multi‑dwelling per‑unit fee to $18; small commercial can base to $36) as amended in the meeting; council approved an emergency clause so the rate changes take effect promptly. Staff said details of cart procurement, financing scenarios and a public rollout plan will return to council as the multi‑stage program develops.