Paying for Trash, Garbage Pickups
No one likes to see bags of uncollected garbage or junk such as discarded televisions and furniture littering a community’s streets. But collecting and disposing of refuse costs money.
When those responsible don’t pay the bill, taxpayers have to do so. That is patently unfair.
The issue came up this week during a Steubenville City Council meeting. Two councilmen complained about refuse not being picked up by municipal sanitation crews. Garbage and junk on private property and city-owned lots are problems, they said.
Street and Sanitation Superintendent Bob Baird was right to point out the challenge “has many layers and a lot of nuances.”
Money seems to be the root of the problem. “Can we pick up all the trash and garbage we see and stay on a scheduled route? No,” Baird told council members.
It would be naive to suggest solving the problem will be simple. But two actions could help, as Baird implied:
First, city sanitation rates need to be realistic. One key to that is ensuring that property owners understand that if they generate larger-than-normal quantities of refuse, they will be billed more — and expected to pay it. If they do not, sanitation service can be suspended, and that should mean an unpleasant visit from health department officials.
Second, those who dump garbage and junk on others’ properties, including that owned by the city, have to be held accountable.
During this week’s meeting, Councilman Bob Villamagna volunteered to address that personally. “If the trash is on city property, I will volunteer to dig through the garbage to find a name,” he said, adding, “but someone better be arrested.”
Sometimes, enforcement is not that simple. Those unscrupulous enough to leave bags of garbage on others’ property often are careful enough to remove any refuse that might identify them. Perhaps the public could be enlisted to get and report license numbers of vehicles used in illegal dumping.
Good for city officials for discussing an issue ignored in too many other municipalities. They are right to view keeping Steubenville clean as a priority.
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