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Bridgeport considers tighter trash rules: bagging, screening and timing under review
Summary
Council and staff reviewed a draft revision to Chapter 470 that would require secure, labeled trash receptacles, bagged trash, frontage screening for cans, limits on containers and a curbside placement deadline; council suggested edits including 'day of pickup' wording and alley exemptions.
Bridgeport officials reviewed a draft revision to Chapter 470 (solid waste) during the March 10 work session that would require residents and commercial properties to keep trash receptacles secured and labeled, require trash to be bagged (recycling co‑mingled), limit container placement and add screening standards where cans are stored along property frontages.
Planning official Mr. Truman summarized the proposal: receptacles must have tight lids and not overflow; trash must be bagged securely; recycling should remain unbagged and co‑mingled; containers must be labeled with the property's physical address; curbside placement would be constrained (the draft lists a 7 a.m. Tuesday placement deadline, though staff and council discussed alternatives); commercial properties would be required to use dumpsters or approved refuse collection facilities; and the draft proposes preliminary enforcement language with fines "not to exceed $100." The draft also includes photographs and diagrams illustrating acceptable screening approaches.
Council reaction: Council members suggested changing the explicit 7 a.m. deadline to read "day of pickup" to avoid needing ordinance edits when pickup schedules change, and discussed whether 6 a.m. was a better default to avoid early‑morning disturbance. Members raised concerns about the private cost burden of screening for small properties, and staff said alleys would likely be excluded from screening requirements. The council also discussed pet waste (suggestion to handle it in a separate ordinance) and bulk items that can be scattered by wind.
Why it matters: The draft aims to reduce litter and nuisance complaints by setting clearer standards for storage and curbside placement and by giving code officials a modest enforcement mechanism. The most significant changes for residents would be mandatory bagging of trash, visible address labeling on cans and potential screening requirements for frontage storage.
Next steps: The draft remains in work‑session review. Staff indicated the draft will be refined to address council concerns — including wording for placement times and alley exceptions — and may be advertised for public comment and a future vote.
