Red Springs amends code to require trash cans be removed within 24 hours

The Town of Red Springs on July 4 approved an amendment to the municipal code requiring residents to remove rollout garbage containers from the curb within 24 hours of collection and standardized receptacle capacity at 95 gallons.

The town manager read the proposed ordinance language during the meeting: "title 16 chapter 2, section 16-17(b) of the code of ordinances, Town of Red Springs, North Carolina is hereby amended to read as follows... each receptacle shall have not more than 95 gallons capacity... Rollout containers shall be removed from the curb within 24 hours after collection date. Violators shall be fined as prescribed by G.S. 14-4." The manager noted the ordinance previously allowed longer curb exposure and had not been updated to make the practice punishable.

Discussion clarified that the town issues one 95-gallon can to each resident and that residents may obtain a second town-issued can for an additional fee; town staff said the fee for an additional town can was discussed during the meeting. Commissioners raised concerns about holidays and collection-date changes; the manager said the collection date as published would control which day the 24-hour removal requirement applies.

A motion to take the item off the table and adopt the ordinance was made and seconded; the council approved the amendment by voice vote.

The meeting did not record a roll-call vote or itemize fines or fee schedule changes beyond the ordinance language and the reference to G.S. 14-4. Implementation details and enforcement procedures were not specified at the meeting.