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Princeton board approves revised solid-waste ordinance: commercial bagging, smaller limb limits and new fees for bulk pickups
Summary
The board approved a rewrite of the town's solid-waste ordinance that requires commercial customers to bag trash, reduces accepted limb size to 6" diameter/6 ft length for curbside pickup, mandates containerized yard waste March—October, and sets a fee schedule (white goods/TVs/mattresses $25 each; special pickups $75 half truck/$150 full truck) with an enforcement notice and 48-hour removal window for bulk items.
The Town of Princeton approved revisions to its solid-waste ordinance at the June 1 meeting, adopting operational changes and a new fee schedule intended to reduce wind-blown litter, clarify bulk-pickup procedures and recover disposal costs.
Key changes the board approved include: - Requiring commercial customers to bag trash placed in town-provided cans to reduce loose debris downtown. - Requiring commercial containers to be maintained in a sanitary condition. - Reducing the maximum curbside limb size accepted as part of the monthly solid-waste service from 10" diameter by 10' length to 6" diameter by 6' length to make curbside collection safer and more manageable. - Requiring seasonal leaf collection and asking residents to containerize leaves, grass clippings and similar yard waste in containers or bags not exceeding 50 gallons from March through October. - A fee schedule for special pickups and white goods: $25 per white-good item (refrigerator, washer, dryer, mattress, TV), $75 for up to a half truckload special pickup and $150 for a full truckload; non-conforming hazardous materials would be subject to separate disposal costs plus an administrative fee if not removed after 48 hours.
During extended discussion staff emphasized education and a phased implementation: door hangers and phone calls will be used to notify residents, staff will document violations with photos and first-time warnings will be offered as the system ramps up. Board members and staff debated the appropriate notice window (24/48/72 hours) and agreed to move enforcement language to a clearer location in the ordinance (Section 4.F in the final draft), to remove a proposed daily $50 violation charge and instead rely on the itemized pickup fees and administrative charges for non-conforming materials.
Public works staff said the town is exploring whether mechanized equipment (a grapple truck) could improve collection efficiency but noted such equipment costs (roughly $150,000) and maintenance would require capital planning; staff also pointed to convenience sites in Johnson County as a free alternative for many bulky items.
A final motion to approve the ordinance with the discussed modifications was made, seconded and recorded as passing. Staff said they would prepare public notices and utility-bill inserts to inform residents about the new rules and fee schedule before enforcement begins.
Notes: the fee amounts and operational steps above were read into the record during the meeting; staff and board emphasized education before active enforcement.
