Columbia residents complain about trash pile up near East Campus

COLUMBIA, MO (KMIZ)

Some Columbia residents are facing issues with trash piling up since the new city logo bag ordinance started this month.

A viewer sent in images of trash pile-ups in yards of homes located on Ross Street near East Campus Drive. Bags of trash, some ripped open, have been sitting out for days, due to the city not picking them up.

As of Feb. 1, the City of Columbia requires all residential trash to be in city-issued logo bags in order to be picked up. Columbia's Ward 6 Council Member, Betsy Peter says, the city allowed a grace period over the last few weeks to get citizens adjusted to the new system. Peters says that grace period ended this week and citizens are expected to leave residential trash in city logo bags for curbside pickup.

Peters says she spoke with some citizens who are still unaware of this new trash pickup policy. The city's Office of Neighborhood Services is now sending out notifications to some residents who are still not using the city logo bags. Peters says the notification is to inform and educate residents on the new trash pickup procedures and provide information on how to redeem trash bag vouchers. She says it is also possible that some still may have not received their trash bag vouchers in the mail, as this is an issue the city has been seeing.

"The first thing is to educate people, and then once they're educated to see do they not have vouchers, because the city has run into that. People aren't getting their vouchers or not being charged for their vouchers or they're supposed to be using a dumpster, you know so there's other issues."

The trash buildup near East Campus Drive was an issue council member Peters was unaware of as it falls under her ward. She says she hasn't received any complaints of this issue just yet. Due to that area being primarily populated with students of the University of Missouri, she believes they may be unaware of the new city logo bag requirement.

Peters says residents should always try contacting their assigned council members first in regards to issues trash issues. Council members will contact the city manager on behalf of citizens to get the issue resolved.

Residents can contact the city at 573-874-CITY or their local council member if they still have not received their vouchers for city logo trash bags.

Those that may have not redeemed their vouchers yet can still redeem vouchers at City Hall, Gerbes, Hy-Vee, Menards, Moser’s, and Schnucks.