KINGWOOD — The City of Kingwood is amending its garbage collection ordinance to address how much and how garbage is placed on the curb.
Council had first reading of the revised ordinance last week. It will be published and another reading held before it can be finalized.
The changes are part of council’s efforts to bring ordinances up-to-date. For example, at its June 12 meeting, council will consider amendments to the zoning ordinance that address where pools and fences can be placed and what types of fences can be used.
Amendments to the garbage ordinance will require customers to place trash in bags, even if garbage cans are used. That’s because city workers find themselves chasing trash that blows away from cans without bags, City Supervisor Bruce Pyles said.
“Loose garbage within a garbage container, other than within a garbage bag, will not be collected,” according to the ordinance.
Garbage cans cannot have more than a 26-gallon capacity. Cans that hold more than 20 gallons must have two carrying handles.
The number of bags also is specified. Residential customers will be able to put out, “no more than five 30- or 39-gallon garbage bags and no more than 10 13-gallon garbage bags.” No limit was specified by bag size in the existing ordinance.
Items put out must also be of “reasonable weight,” or they will not be picked up.
Basic rates will remain unchanged, at $15.40 per month for residential customers inside the city and $17.26 per month for residential customers outside the city. That’s in addition to a 6.45 percent fuel adjustment approved by the State Public Service Commission (PSC), which is subject to review and change by the PSC.
Business rates will also remain the same.
