Matt Herbis, council liaison for Nashville Waste Services, told District 33 residents that Metro will roll out a new collection schedule for the Urban Services District on Feb. 2. "We are launching February 2," he said, and added that residents should receive postcards and stickers indicating their new pickup day.

The change applies only to properties inside the Urban Services District (USD), Herbis said. He explained that the primary differences between the USD and the General Services District (GSD) are Metro pickup of trash and recycling and funding for street lights. "Folks that are in the Urban Services District get metro pickup for their trash and recycling, and they also ... are funded to have street lights," he said.

Herbis described the department as newly organized (established in July) and said Metro is modernizing route management after relying on paper maps earlier in the year. The agency will publish a lookup page so residents can confirm their address and new pickup day; if a resident’s day changes they will receive a sticker on their cart. Herbis invited constituents to call or email for questions and said he would post contact information in the meeting chat.

Residents raised concerns about private haulers and local operators. A resident said Hudgens' disposal has left trash on roads; Herbis said Metro has purview over private haulers in the county, acknowledged many haulers are not currently registered, and said Metro plans to franchise the General Services District in the future to provide greater oversight. He encouraged residents to email specific complaints so staff can investigate.

Metro and residents were advised to file service requests in Hub Nashville or call 311 for litter or dumped items so the appropriate division (for example NDOT for roadway litter) can schedule cleanup. Herbis and Councilmember Lee also suggested contacting the council liaison or the district beautification commissioner for community cleanups when Hub requests alone have not resolved an issue.

Metro’s immediate next steps are the Feb. 2 launch and the mailing of postcards and can-sticker labels; longer-term goals include registering haulers and improving oversight of private operators in the GSD. Residents with continuing service complaints were directed to send specific addresses to Herbis for follow-up.