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Murray outlines April 1 switch to GFL for trash collection; city says rates not expected to rise
Summary
City staff explained the April 1 switch from Republic Services to GFL, described phased delivery of roughly 7,500 new black carts and upcoming changes including a return to five-day collection; staff said residential rates are not expected to increase under the five-year contract.
Murray staff told the council and residents that residential trash service will transfer from Republic Services to GFL starting April 1, with new black carts and a phased delivery expected to cover about 7,500 households.
Ron Albrittain, who briefed the meeting, said residents should put out only one cart for service and that both older blue carts and new black carts will be serviced during the transition. He said recycling carts will remain black with yellow lids and that most residents’ collection day should not change immediately. Albrittain said part of the route will shift and a Friday collection route will be restored as the system moves back to five-day residential pickup.
Why it matters: The change affects every household’s curbside service schedule and the look of carts in neighborhoods. Staff emphasized how to handle overlapping carts during the transition and provided a phone number for account problems.
Albrittain and other staff advised practical steps for residents: put out only one cart on collection day; if you received a black cart but still have a blue one, put the blue cart out the first week to be emptied and then use the black cart thereafter; if a resident did not receive a cart, call the sanitation department at 270-762-0380. He also explained that warped new carts are often fixed by leaving them in sun for a day after shipment.
On rates, Albrittain told the council the city does not foresee an increase in residential sanitation charges with the new five-year contract. “We don’t foresee any rate increases,” he said, adding that commercial roll-off rates or specialized services could change under published ordinances and would come before the council if they require an increase.
Next steps: GFL service begins April 1 and staff will continue to provide public updates via the city website and the mayor’s social channels. Residents with specific delivery or service-day questions were directed to call the sanitation department for account-level help.
