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Leave Your Trash Bin Out For More Than 24 Hours? It Could Soon Be Against The Law In Springfield

Leave Your Trash Bin Out For More Than 24 Hours? It Could Soon Be Against The Law In Springfield

Leave Your Trash Bin Out For More Than 24 Hours? It Could Soon Be Against The Law In Springfield

On June 29, Springfield City Council will vote on a change to Chapter 94 of city code that among some minor changes, would require residential trash containers be removed from curbs within 24 hours of them being placed there.

The ordinance, Council Bill 2020-141, was submitted by Erick Roberts, Superintendent of Solid Waste Environmental Services.

The bill was recommended by Errin Kemper, Director of Environmental services, approved by City Manager Jason Gage and sponsored by Councilman Craig Hosmer.

You can watch the discussion at the City Council meeting with a link here. The change is brought up at the 1 hour, 54 minute mark.

You can read the entire ordinance here.

On page one of the suggested change, it is written that, residential trash containers that are left at the curb for extended periods of time can have a negative impact on the aesthetics of a neighborhood and help contribute to litter.

Councilman Richard Ollis raised concerns during the meeting asking why the change was being made a priority.

City Manager Gage answered the question, saying, “You would never have to make it a priority if you didn’t want to. When you look you at larger and smaller communities.”

He says it’s typical to require people to pull their bin in.

Gage says penalties for people who do not follow the proposed change would not be severe.

“This is a soft glove thing. We’re not looking to put people in jail and have big fines,” Gage says.

“But if there is someone who doesn’t respond to the soft glove we would follow up.”

Gage says the change is a housekeeping item, a minor thing when looking at neighborhoods.

Councilman Hosmer says a previous law that requires trash bags be brought back in if left out for more than 24 hours, should also apply to containers.

“I’ve had constituents tell me there are people place their trash containers in the driveway, (the constituents) contacts people, there’s nothing they can do, they leave their trash can there, 24/7. And trash gets knocked down, it makes the city dirty.”

Hosmer says, “We shouldn’t have to legislate and make people do things they should be doing anyway. But sometimes you have to anyway.”

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