City of Columbia begins year-long process following approval of roll carts

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Now that the Columbia City Council has approved the use of roll carts, an implementation process expected to last a year begins.

The city is moving forward with roll carts -- covered trash bins with wheels -- after the City Council unanimously approved its implementation Monday night. Columbia Utilities Director David Sorrell said it will take the city about a year to begin the official launch of the roll carts as it waits for new trucks with arms to pick up the carts.

The city will have nine standard garbage truck pick-up required routes Monday through Friday, with about 710 stops per day, according to the information given to the City Council. It will also have two non-standard garbage truck pick-ups with roughly 355 stops per day, which is a smaller truck for areas with congested parking.

The estimated cost for the first year is $3 million. The annual lease for the new trucks will run about $900,000 per year.

City Utilities spokesman Matt Nestor said the money that will be used to fund the trucks and roll carts will come from previous projects that changed over time. This includes the money that was intended to go towards logo bags that were previously used for trash, as well as for truck replacements.

"So it's not any additional money," Nestor said. "It's money that had already been budgeted for other reasons that we're just re-allocating."

The city also plans to hire a consultant to help create an educational program for city trash customers about the switch.

"This is a big change for people, so we want to be able to get the word out to as many people as we can," Nestor said. "So, just a complete education process for the community and we think a consultant can help us get that completed."

Nestor said the date for when the proposal for that will be sent out has not been decided yet.

Sorrell said the launch of these automated trucks will not require any current employees to lose their jobs, but the city will likely need fewer temporary agency workers.

Residents will have the option of using a 35-gallon, 64-gallon or 95- gallon cart, each varying in price, and will have 120 days to return the cart, if it is determined that a smaller or larger one is required for their household.

Each cart is priced differently, but the monthly fee will not be an additional cost to what residents currently pay.

"So everybody's fee right now is $17.37 and we have it broken down so if you get the 65-gallon cart, the middle-sized cart, your rates will stay the same. It's not an additional fee, it's your monthly rate," Nestor said.

The current process for larger-item pick-up will not change, Sorrell said.

Nestor also said the current system for those who are disabled and cannot roll the cart themselves will stay the same. After the resident obtains a note from the doctor proving their disability, they will be able to place their roll cart outside their garage or front door, and a worker will roll the cart for them.

Residents will have to place each cart with a minimum of 15 feet of vertical distance, and can only use the city-issued roll carts. The cart lids must also be fully closed, and any trash placed on top of the cart will be refused.

At its meeting on Monday, the City Council said changes would be expected to begin March 4, 2024.