Columbia City Council to consider repealing ban on roll carts in April
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -
The Columbia City Council could vote to repeal the city's years-long ban on a roll cart trash system at its first meeting in April.
The City Clerk's Office tells ABC 17 News that it certified a citizen-led petition on Wednesday that will force the council to vote on removing its prohibition on the collection system. The council could also choose to put the issue on the August 2022 ballot for voters to decide.
Residents started gathering signatures in August 2020 to end the city's ordinance stopping it from adopting an automated trash system. People have called on the city to consider the system, which allows residents to put trash bags in roll carts, place the carts at the curb and let a city trash truck pick the carts up and empty them.
The city currently requires residents to place city-logo bags of trash and recycling at the curb for trash workers themselves to pick up and put in trucks. Residents get 104 bags of trash every year and must pay for extra bags if they run out. Critics of the current system say it leads to bags tearing and spilling trash and more frequent injuries to workers. ABC 17 News Investigates found the "Pay As You Throw" system cut down on the amount of trash collected, but had not attracted more workers to Solid Waste.
An affirmative vote from the council or voters will not bring roll carts to the city immediately. It would allow the city council to consider moving to an automated form of trash collection.
Dr. Rachel Proffitt, one of the organizers of the petition process, said she hopes the council will repeal the ban at its meeting, and not move it to an August vote of the people.
"I hope that [the council] are able to make some data-driven decision," Proffitt said. "I hope that they listen to the endless stream of complaints that have come in from their constituents, and make a sound decision that really is the best, not only for the citizens, but moving forward with options that are better for our workers, as well."
Voters in 2016 approved the ban after a citizen petition put the issue on the ballot. Critics of the roll cart system at the time said the system would make it harder for elderly residents and people with disabilities to handle the carts.
City clerk Sheela Amin said the office verified 3,244 signatures in the latest petition process. The petition, organized by "Columbia MO Citizens for Roll Carts," needed 3,219 signatures for approval.
An ordinance asking the Columbia City Council to repeal the ban will appear for a first reading on the March 21 agenda. The council will then get a chance to vote on it at its next meeting on April 4, just one day before the municipal election that will bring on a brand new mayor and Fourth Ward councilperson, and possibly a new Third Ward councilperson.
Proffitt and others began gathering signatures around the time the council voted against holding a special election in November 2020 to repeal the ban. The council vote was 3-3, with Fourth Ward Councilman Ian Thomas absent. Second Ward Councilman Michael Trapp, Fifth Ward Councilman Matt Pitzer and Sixth Ward Councilwoman Betsy Peters voted to put the repeal on the ballot. First Ward Councilwoman Pat Fowler, Third Ward Councilman Karl Skala and Mayor Brian Treece voted against it.
Since that vote, only the Second Ward seat has changed hands. Current councilwoman Andrea Waner told ABC 17 News she supported the petition.
