Dallas

Dallas Considers Bulk Trash Changes

Dallas city leaders are considering tough new rules and procedures for bulk trash collection to reduce the time bulk trash stands along city streets and the amount of trash allowed there.

Currently Dallas has no volume restriction on what is allowed for monthly bulk trash collection.

Items may remain on the curb long before scheduled pick up and then the full collection week waiting for city workers to get through neighborhoods in the monthly rotation.

“That’s just horrible,” said Oak Cliff resident Gillian Bradshaw-Smith. “I always can’t wait for them to come and get rid of it all.”

She and neighbor Sean Berry took a break from working on their yards to talk trash.

“It just ruins the beautiful looks of the neighborhood,” Berry said.

City leaders have heard complaints for years.

“I think we need to find a better way of doing business, a more efficient way of doing business,” Pleasant Grove Councilman Rick Callahan said.

This week Dallas Sanitation Director Kelly High presented City Council members with a list of possible changes to reduce bulk trash blight.

“They like what they heard but they want to make sure their constituents are on board with some of these changes and get their feedback,” High said.

“I thought it was one of the greatest presentations, with solutions, that we’ve had,” said Councilman Dwaine Caraway.

The options include weekly yard waste pick up separate from bulk trash, then fewer bulk trash pickups each year.

“I think it would be great,” Berry said. “I think everyone in the neighborhood would love it.”

There could be limits on the amount of bulk trash allowed at the curb, tighter schedules for items to be picked up and tougher code enforcement for residents accustom to lining the street with big volume for free city pick up.

“We make it easy on them. We almost encourage them, because it’s all packed inside of their sanitation bill,” Callahan said.

High found other Texas cities are more restrictive about bulk trash.

“They all have limits on volume. They have limited schedules on the pickup. Some do weekly yard waste,” High said.

The city will now hold public meetings to get input about the options but Rick Callahan wants fast action.

“I get tired of having my neighborhoods bulked and brushed up 30 days,” he said.

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