Muscatine staff propose optional extra trash and yard-waste carts; council gives consensus to proceed

City staff presented a proposal to offer residents optional extra refuse or yard-waste carts at the April 21 Muscatine City Council meeting, and the council gave consensus to proceed. Under the staff plan residents could lease one or two extra 65-gallon carts on a yearly basis for $10 per month per cart, with a $50 refundable deposit. If staff must deliver or pick up a cart on a resident’s behalf, a $10 delivery fee would apply.

Staff said the city has a surplus of 65-gallon carts and would label extra carts with a different-colored lid. The same collection crew would pick up yard-waste carts so those materials would be routed to the yard-waste truck rather than the landfill. Staff estimated prototype sign costs and small per-cart expenses: a one-time lid purchase of about $2,500 would be covered in the current budget to enable the program and staff estimated per-sign costs roughly $70–$80 when sign changes are required for ordinance updates.

Council members asked operational questions about pickup frequency, yard-waste contents (grass, leaves, small brush) and the plan to run the program on an annual lease basis (payments prorated if started mid-year). Council Member Brockert pressed to confirm that yard-waste collected via the proposed program would not be sent to the landfill; staff confirmed the yard-waste truck is dedicated to compostable material. Staff said uptake is unknown but estimated conservative initial participation and will return with ordinance language and next steps.

The council did not take a formal vote but indicated consensus to proceed with drafting ordinance updates and program logistics.