Greendale adopts ordinance requiring village‑approved carts and relaxes screening for older row houses

The Village of Greendale board adopted an ordinance to align local code with the village’s transition to fully automated garbage and recycling collection. The ordinance requires use of village‑approved carts (65‑ or 95‑gallon) and provides storage flexibilities designed to work with the new trucks.

Staff said an intern reviewed ordinances from 15 nearby municipalities and concluded Greendale’s existing screening requirement for single‑family homes was more restrictive than most peers. The ordinance allows carts to be stored indoors or outdoors within two feet of the principal structure or garage on a non‑street‑facing side, and it provides an alternative that permits storage outside required yard setbacks if the cart is fully screened from public view by fencing, landscaping or other opaque barriers. For older 3‑, 4‑ and 6‑family row houses that lack side yards, staff recommended an exception allowing orderly front‑of‑structure storage.

Trustees asked for clarity on several points, including whether recyclables could be placed in bags or liners. Staff and trustees clarified that recyclables should not be placed in plastic bags because those bags can clog municipal sorting machinery; garbage should be in covered containers or secured refuse liners but recyclables are to be loose in the cart. The ordinance sets an effective date of June 1.

The board moved and approved the ordinance after discussion and some technical clarifications on screening and liners.