SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The City of Houghton, in a Council meeting ahead of its budget work session, approved two ordinances in connection with new trash and recycling contract with Waste Management (WM). The five-year contract with WM for curbside trash and recycling pickup, approved in October 2022, is scheduled to come into effect in June this year.

According to City press release, Ordinance 332 proposes changes in trash and recyclables collection by discarding bags and adopting new cart system. Under the terms of the ordinance, residents will have to pay $18.25 per month, for which they will be provided with one trash and one recycling container, both with a capacity of 64 gallons each. The amount will be billed along with monthly water and sewer services bill.

Residents can get additional containers by paying $12 per trash and $5 per recycling container.

Under the current system, residents have to pay $6.50 per month on their water bill, in addition to buying city garbage bags. On an average, the consumer has to pay around $17-$18 per month.

The Ordinance 333 proposes a new fee schedule.

There will be no change in garbage collection schedule. However, instead of weekly collection, the collection will now take place once in every two weeks. The carts need to be put out for collection before 7 AM, within three feet of the curb.