Naperville may limit how much trash you can toss, what you can toss it in
Traditional garbage cans could become a thing of the past in Naperville.
Residents may be required buy from the city the specially designed, wheeled containers, which come in three sizes. A 32-gallon cart costs $43, a 68-gallon cart is $57 and a 95-gallon cart is $63.
Residents also could be limited in the number of garbage containers they can place on the curb.
City council members discussed both possible changes Tuesday as the city explores how to fill the remaining $11.2 million budget hole for next fiscal year.
The city currently has a "take all" garbage collection system but is looking into the costs of limiting residents to putting on the curb either one or two "carts" - the special containers that can be lifted and dumped by a garbage truck, rather than manually.
Currently, 4,441 residents have two carts, according to Councilman Jim Boyajian. There are at least 300 customers with four carts or more, and many of these are likely skirting commercial hauling regulations.
If Naperville restricts the number of carts per household, it is considering a paid sticker program for items that don't fit in the carts. Residents still would be able to choose from any of the three cart sizes.
Boyajian said councilmen have not discussed whether they would change the price of the carts but it has never been the city's intention to make money off them, only to cover costs.
Councilman Paul Hinterlong raised the issue of people having excess garbage after they have garage sales or if they are moving but Councilman Judy Brodhead said the city would need to educate those residents about their options, such as renting Dumpsters.
The city is also looking into having several "take all" days each year to accommodate residents with excess trash.
Councilman Grant Wehrli said in addition to cost savings for the city, the restriction on the number of carts could encourage more people to recycle. Councilmen hope to award a contract for garbage collection on Dec. 15. If the new restrictions are approved, they would not start until May 2011.