Peosta staff propose moving trash pickup to 6 a.m.; council to seek resident input

A public works staff member proposed moving the town’s first residential trash pickup to 6:00 a.m. for the first roughly 100 homes on the route, arguing the earlier start would let crews “be out of this area before 7” and reduce conflicts with school buses and morning traffic.

Council members discussed concerns about children congregating at large bus stops and asked staff to provide a list of bus-stop locations and pickup times so routes could be adjusted to minimize contact with students. Staff said crews currently are often in town by 6:30 a.m., and shifting the official start to 6 a.m. would likely not cascade to a 5:30 a.m. start but would require clearer communication with drivers.

The staff estimate for the route change affects about 100–110 homes. Members also raised practical concerns about residents putting trash out the night before on windy days and the potential for litter, noting that heavier-lidded automated cans have already reduced wind problems in many neighborhoods.

Council agreed to run a two-week customer survey to gather resident feedback; staff were asked to include an address field on the form so responses could be matched to affected routes. Members repeatedly cautioned that changing collection times requires amending the town’s nuisance/noise ordinance and completing the public hearing process — including newspaper notice and a comment period — so any final decision will take additional time and follow a formal ordinance change.

Next steps: staff will post the survey (two-week period discussed, tentatively through Memorial Day), provide bus-stop data to council members, and return with results and timing estimates. The council will not make a final decision at the current meeting.