Lafayette about to update the rules on garbage day

Proposed ordinance includes what can and can’t be put at the curb.

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LAFAYETTE ABOUT TO UPDATE RULES ON GARBAGE PICK-UP

Guidelines for putting out trash and recycling and how it gets collected in Lafayette will be up for the first of two votes by the city council Monday evening.

A rewrite of the garbage and waste section in the Lafayette City Code comes in part because expectations and current sanitation department practices hadn’t been updated in decades, city officials said. The proposed changes also anticipate a new style of garbage collection trucks that will allow a driver to run a route solo, guiding electric arms from the cab to pick up trash and recycling toters.

Dan Crowell, Lafayette Street and Sanitation superintendent, said most people on residential routes won’t notice many differences, though the city will be putting into code rules for the number of times they can leave large items at the curb.

“It’s mainly just dialing in things we’re already doing,” Crowell said.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

In January, the city announced plans to add two new EV trash and recycling trucks to its sanitation fleet – a move touted as a first for an Indiana city. According to the city, the EV, automated side loader trucks were purchased with help from a grant from the Volkswagen Settlement Allocation through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Crowell said crews are training on those trucks, which will be deployed in some neighborhoods in the coming weeks. Those with addresses on the EV trash and recycling truck routes will get flyers that explain how to position toters to help speed the routes.

“It’s going to be a learning curve for everyone,” Crowell said.

Among the highlights, based on a summary of the proposed ordinance vs. the current one compiled by City Attorney Jacque Chosnek:

Responsibilities and enforcement: The new ordinance outlines the city's role, including waste and recycling collection for single-family homes and small residential units. That includes:

• Specifying property owner liability for tenant violations, ensuring property owners instruct tenants on compliance.

• Clarifying that properties with five or more residential units and commercial/industrial properties must arrange their own waste services.

• Strengthening enforcement with notices for violations, deadlines for correction and penalties, including liens for unpaid cleanup costs.

Container use and placement

• The ordinance specifies container types and sizes provided by the city, with 96-gallon toters for recycling and 64-gallon toters for waste.

• Requires proper placement for collection: Trash and recycling may be set out no earlier than 2 p.m. the day before collection and removed by 9 p.m. on collection day. Toters must face the street, be three feet from obstructions and two feet apart to accommodate the new one-arm sanitation vehicles.

• The ordinance would mandate secure bagging of waste to prevent leaks and contamination.

• The ordinance also includes guidelines for container storage between collections, including neatly within a garage or adjacent to the structure.

Yard waste and recycling

• Leaves can still be raked to the curb for the vacuum trucks from October through April. From May through September, grass clippings and leaves would have to be placed in biodegradable bags.

• Items for recycling would have to be clean, dry and placed unbagged in recycling containers. Large cardboard must be broken down and set beside containers on collection days. The ordinance would prohibit placing nonrecyclables in recycling containers.

Prohibited items

• The proposed ordinance includes a list of items not acceptable for collection. Among them: hazardous waste, including items containing Freon, such as refrigerators and air conditioners; construction materials and brush from private contractors; specific household items like lithium batteries, most electrical appliances (including computers, televisions, monitors or cell phones); oil-based paints and stains, latex paints still in liquid form; sharp objects such as lancets and needles, which “shall only be disposed of in a heavy, screw-top plastic container with the lid secured.”

Excess waste and collection restrictions

• The proposed ordinance defines excess waste and limits its collection to twice per year per residence.

• It also emphasizes that certain materials require private disposal arrangements, including contractor waste, electronics or large hazardous items.

Penalties and compliance

• The proposed ordinance does not change the $1,000 maximum fine per day for violations.

• The proposed ordinance lays out notification and compliance processes in the case of violations, including notices mailed to the property owner with a 10 days to correct the issues. It also would set a process if the city cleans up uncorrected violations, with costs invoiced to property owners and unpaid invoices resulting in liens on properties.

The proposed ordinance would require two votes from the city council to go into effect. To read the full proposed ordinance, here’s a link.

• If you go: The Lafayette City Council meets at 6 p.m. Monday at city hall, 20 N. Sixth St.

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