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FOLLANSBEE - New garbage collection regulations are set to go into effect in Follansbee at the end of the month, and city officials are reminding residents and businesses to make sure they are prepared.
City Manager Chris Manack-Stover said letters have been sent to the community explaining the pending changes, which include an increase in rates approved by Follansbee Council earlier this year.
"People have been notified," she said during the Aug. 3 Council-as-a-whole meeting.
Copies of the information also will be available at the Follansbee City Building and the city's social media accounts.
Of particular concern during last week's discussions were bulk items and special pickups, which will require homeowners to contact the city to arrange for collection.
"They can’t just put it out. They have to call for it," Public Works Director Bill Secrest said. "That’s what they’re used to. That’s not how it’s going to be."
Under the updated ordinance, special pickups include excessive garbage, rubbish, yard waste, large brush piles or household clean-outs, and have a minimum fee of $75 per pickup truck load or $150 per dump truck load.
Bulk item collections also must be pre-scheduled, with a $25 fee for the first general household bulk item, additional fees for additional items and a minimum $50 fee for metal appliances.
Police Chief Larry Rea expressed concern, in the meantime, that there will be instances in which residents put out items for bulk collection without calling, leaving the materials sitting out for long periods of time.
"You punish the neighborhood. We don’t pick it up because they don’t call or anything," Rea said. "Some of that stuff is sitting out there for two or three weeks."
Mayor Scott McMahon said, in those instances, law enforcement may need to step in and issue citations.
"You do that one or two times, they’ll call," McMahon said.
They acknowledged, though, that there are some areas where none of those efforts, including bringing individuals through city court, will be effective.
For regular garbage collection, all trash must be placed in a proper garbage container, with containers over 30 gallons having wheels and a compatible dumping bar. Loose bags or uncontained waste will not be collected, and sharing containers between households will not be permitted.
Standard residential service, which has a fee of $26 per month, includes up to six garbage containers, with basic commercial service at $43 per month allowing up to 10 containers.
Yard waste does not count toward the container limit but must still fit inside a container, and cardboard must be broken down and bundled no longer than 4 feet and able to be safely handled by one person.
Containers may be set out no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before a resident's collection day and must be removed by 11 p.m. the day of collection.