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The St. Paul City Council voted 7-0 to approve language for a ballot referendum for the Nov. 5 election, asking voters whether they want to continue with the city’s contentious centralized trash collection system that started in October.

that St. Paul residents had a right to decide whether they wanted the new streamlined trash collection system, which the city argues reduces truck traffic and limits illegal dumping, but critics claim is unfair and more expensive.

The city had to approve the ballot language quickly to meet a Friday deadline to send it to Ramsey County.

Council members signed off on the referendum language after hearing comments from four citizens, none of whom voiced significant concerns with the wording.

St. Paul voters can decide trash question

St. Paul launched its new garbage system in October, ending a decades-old practice of allowing residents to pick their own garbage hauler. City officials argued that system was inefficient, and resulted in multiple garbage trucks rumbling down streets and alleys on several different days.

Residents rebelled, arguing the system raised costs, and was unfair, because it required every housing unit to have its own garbage can — so a four-plex, for example, needed to have four separate trash receptacles, even if all of them weren’t needed.

“Why can’t we get a simple change, so I can have two big ones, instead of four?” St. Paul resident Mike Schumann asked the council before it voted to approve the language. He implored council members to begin work to fix the program even before the election takes place.

 asking the City Council to let voters decide whether to accept the new program, but the City Council refused, arguing it would breach the city’s multi-year contract with trash haulers.

Three St. Paul residents sued, arguing that denying the referendum violated the city’s charter, an argument ultimately backed by the state Supreme Court after 

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said Friday the city will comply with the ruling, despite its earlier rejection of the request for a referendum. But at a press conference he said there’s still uncertainty.

“The court issued their decision but has not yet explained the rationale,” he said. “Our path forward won’t be completely clear until we receive that information. But we will abide by the court’s final determination. One matter has been decided. The ordinance will be on the ballot this November.”

Minnesota News

Twin Cities News

Dan Kraker

Author

The St. Paul City Council unanimously approved ballot language at its special meeting Friday to ask voters whether they want to continue with the city's centralized trash collection system. The vote followed a ruling from the Minnesota Supreme Court that the issue should go to voters.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter gives remarks.

Tarkor Zehn | MPR News

Resident Mike Schumann and other St. Paul residents.

Referendum on St. Paul’s trash system readied for voters

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