Willard weighs ordinance to make city own residential garbage cans after repeated breakage complaints

Willard City Council heard a lengthy presentation from Republic Services on Jan. 22 about recurring complaints that newer residential garbage cans are breaking and lids are separating from containers.

Republic municipal manager Ashley (Republic Services) told the council that some recent batches of cans appear weaker than legacy models and that certain manufacturers’ rotational molding batches have failed more often. Operations manager Austin Jenkins said the trucks track serial numbers and that drivers will return to collect missed cans; he also said Republic can help source more robust cans and leverage bulk purchasing to reduce unit cost for the city.

The discussion focused on two policy choices: whether the city should buy and own residents’ cans (replacing them as they wear) or have Republic continue to supply and manage them under contract. Council members pressed for cost estimates and clarity on procurement. Staff noted that many cans come with a 10‑year industry warranty; one staffer said earlier units cost roughly $30–$40 but more recent purchases have been about $80–$90 per can.

Council members and residents described damage from truck handling and inconsistent pickup timing that can lead to missed collections. Republic representatives said the problem is likely a combination of lower-quality batches from some manufacturers and the way the arm and lid reinforcement interact; they recommended both selecting stronger cans (manufacturers named during the meeting included Schaefer and Toter) and fine‑tuning truck settings.

Councilors also discussed penalties and enforcement language in the draft ordinance, including whether violations should be a class B or class C misdemeanor for intentional damage or placement violations; members urged narrowing penalty language so it targets vandalism rather than routine neglect. Staff and Republic agreed to provide warranty reports, samples and purchasing options. Council asked staff to draft ordinance revisions, produce an estimate of the up‑front replacement cost if the city were to own cans, and return with a recommended public‑hearing date.

Next steps: staff will prepare draft ordinance changes and cost estimates and schedule a public hearing so the council can consider amendments formally. The council did not take a final vote on the ordinance at the Jan. 22 meeting.

Quote: "We're trying to do both — work with the city, help facilitate other vendors for you, and research our trucks," Republic's Ashley said, describing the company's plan to address complaints and recommend more durable cans.

Ending: Council members asked staff to return with written options (purchase-through‑city, city‑owned replacement program, or contract amendment) and cost estimates before any final action.