Title
Amending Section 220.05 of the Legislative Code to match current operational procedures and set rates for base level garbage service to be effective January 1, 2027.
Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has a Residential Coordinated Trash Collection program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul (“the City”) organized collection of solid waste from 1-4-unit properties in 2018; and
WHEREAS, the City entered into a Residential Solid Waste, Yard Waste, and Bulky Item collection contract (“the Agreement”) with FCC Environmental for the collection of these materials on March 29, 2024, with an effective date of April 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Section (12.3) of the Agreement provides that the rates for Trash Collection Costs and Disposal Costs shall be set annually and per the fee structure outlined in Attachment 3 Rate Table with annually collection increases set at 3.5%; and
WHEREAS, the most recent annual rate adjustment was approved by the Council on January 1, 2026 for rates effective January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Section 12.3 of the Agreement provides that the Disposal Cost shall be reimbursed to the hauler by the City monthly; and
WHEREAS, the ‘net contracted rate’ for disposal costs at the trash disposal facility was increased to $159 per ton and the actual average tonnage collected in the prior 12 months was 56,913 tons; and
WHEREAS, there are State and County taxes on residential solid waste in addition to base rates set by the City as provided in the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Ramsey County Environmental Charge (CEC) is a percentage of the cost of service and must appear as a separate line item on a bill, and Ramsey County’s CEC rate is 28% for residential customers; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota’s Solid Waste Management Tax is a percentage of the cost of service and must appear as a separate line item on a bill, and Minnesota’s Solid Waste Management Tax rate is 9.75% for residential customers; and
WHEREAS, each Hauler will add CEC and Minnesota Solid Waste Management Tax to the base level garbage service rates established by this ordinance;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does hereby adopt the base level garbage service base rates for 2027.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
SECTION 2
Title XXII GARBAGE AND RUBBISH
Chapter 220. Residential Coordinated Collection
Sec. 220.01. Definitions:
The following words or terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
a. Additional service options. Collection services above base level services that may include, but are not limited to: overflow trash bags beyond the contents of the first trash cart, yard waste subscription, yard waste without subscription, bulky waste in excess of bulky base service per calendar year, walk-up service (and over one hundred (100)-foot walk-up service) for non-eligible RDU, return fee or off-day service fee, contaminated recycling collection and disposal fee, cart size change fee, and extra cart fee.
b. Base level services. The trash collection and disposal services common to all RDUs, as defined herein, and includes weekly or bi-weekly collection and disposal of at least one (1) trash cart per lot and a designated number of bulky waste items each year.
c. Bulky waste. Consists of large items that should not be put into carts including, but not limited to: stoves, refrigerators, water heaters, washing machines, bicycles, lawn mowers, mattresses, box springs, furniture, electronics and other such materials. One (1) bulky item is defined by size as one (1) cubic yard, and over-sized items may be charged as multiple.
d. Carts. The wheeled and lidded trash, recycling, and yard-waste labeled containers in which materials can be stored and later rolled out for collection on the designated collection day.
e. Collection hours. The time-period during which services are authorized by the city, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, or Monday through Saturday during weeks that contain a holiday or approved collection delays.
f. Collection location. The city-designated location for placement of carts, bulky waste, and yard waste, and extra garbage bags, no more than four (4) feet from the curb or alley-line.
g. Compostable bags. Paper kraft bags or bags that meet ASTM standard certification for compostable plastics (d6400) within a composting operation as required by Minn. Stat. § 115A.931, subd. (c) and Minn. Stat. § 325e.046, as they may be amended from time to time, for collection of any yard waste that is not contained in a yard waste cart or yard waste bundle.
h. Coordinated collection invoice. The bill sent by the city to the property owner for services.
i. Designated hauler. The hauler assigned to provide services to an individual Lot.
j. Electronic waste. Consists of any discarded consumer electronic device with a circuit board including, but not limited to: televisions, computers, laptops, tablets, computer monitors, peripherals (e.g., keyboard, printer, mouse, etc.), cell phones, DVD recorders/players and video cassette recorders/players and fax machines as specifically referenced in Minn. Stat. § 115A.1310, as it may be amended from time to time.
k. Extended leave suspension. A suspension of services due to an absence from the RDU for at least four (4) but no more than twenty-six (26) consecutive weeks due to a vacation or other travel, temporary employment or education relocation, health concern, or other similar absence.
l. Hazardous waste. Any hazardous, biohazardous, infectious, radioactive, flammable, explosive, biomedical, or toxic waste as defined by applicable laws or regulations, including without limitation, any hazardous waste regulated under the resource conservation & recovery act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq, and associated regulations, 40 C.F.R. part 261; or the toxic substance control act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et. seq and associated regulations, 40 C.F.R. part 761, or the materials described in Minn. Stat. § 116.06, subd. 11, as it may be amended from time to time.
m. Holidays. The following seven (7) major holidays observed each year: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
n. Holiday tree. A tree no larger than six (6) feet in length, twenty (20) pounds in weight which is set at the garbage collection location for collection during a two-week period in January of each year, as designated by the department between January 1 and January 15.
o. Late set out collection. The failure of an RDU property owner to set out trash, recycling, yard waste, or bulky wastes, electronic wastes, and other additional collection service options for collection by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day for collection of the material(s). An RDU that sets out a garbage cart or materials after 6:00 a.m. may request a late set out collection for a fee as adopted by the Council by resolution.
p. Mixed municipal solid waste. Has the meaning prescribed in Minn. Stat. § 115A.03, subd. 21, as it may be amended from time to time.
q. Opt-in. An option for attached dwelling units with more than four (4) units or mixed-use properties, that have carted service to participate in services. Once an RDU has opted in, it must remain under city garbage collection service for a minimum of one year. it may not withdraw.
r. Overflow trash cart. Overflow trash cart. A cart whose lid is opened more than six (6) inches because the amount of trash inside the cart exceeds the cart's capacity. Trash must be bagged and fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Carts with the lid opened more than six (6) inches are considered overflowing.
s. Overflow trash bag. Extra bag of trash that does not fit into the trash cart which is set out by an RDU property owner at the collection location next to the trash cart. Overflow trash must be placed in a bag that is securely closed, no larger than thirty-five (35) gallons, and less than forty (40) pounds. Oversized bags may incur additional fees.
t. Overflow yard waste bag. Extra compostable bag of yard waste that does not fit into the yard waste cart. Overflow yard waste must be placed in a compostable bag that is securely closed, no larger than thirty-five (35) gallons, and less than forty (40) pounds.
u. Property owner. The RDU owner of record with Ramsey County Taxation.
v. Residential dwelling unit (RDU). Any dwelling unit in any one-, two-, three-, or four-unit residential building within the city, including dwelling units in residential buildings with more than four (4) attached dwelling units using carted service that opt-in to receive services.
w. Residential solid waste. All solid waste from an RDU which normally results from the operation of a household including, but not limited to: mixed municipal solid waste (trash), recyclables, yard waste, and bulky waste. Residential solid waste does not include hazardous waste or tires.
x. Residential collection services or services. The regular collection from an RDU of trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulky waste which normally results from the operation of a household.
y. Special waste. Waste that requires special management or treatment, including, but not limited to, auto hulks, street sweepings, ash, construction debris, mining waste, sludges, tree and agricultural wastes, lead acid batteries, motor and vehicle fluids and filters, asbestos containing materials, and other materials that require special handling or disposal.
z. Source-separated recyclable materials. Recyclable materials, including comingled recyclable materials, that are separated by the generator and separately placed for collection by the city's designated recyclable materials collection contractor.
aa. Trash. Garbage, refuse, and other discarded waste materials in solid form resulting from residential activities as generated by and, specifically excluding unacceptable materials, bulky waste, yard waste, and source-separated recyclable materials.
bb. Trash disposal facility. The facility(s) where trash is deposited.
cc. Trash collection. The taking of trash placed by the RDU at the collection location at the RDU chosen service level.
dd. Trash collection costs. Cost of base level services and additional service options.
ee. Trash collection day. Designated trash collection day of the week for an RDU. For weeks containing a holiday or other collection delay, trash collection day may be delayed one (1) day and may be provided on a Saturday.
ff. Unacceptable materials. Items which an RDU is prohibited from placing for collection from any of the waste streams (e.g. trash, yard waste, bulky waste) that are not allowed because they may contaminate the specific waste stream, cause an unsafe handling/management situation, or otherwise may harm the environment. Examples include, but are not limited to:
1. Prohibited trash: biomedical waste such as hypodermic needles, hazardous waste, special waste, source-separated recyclable materials, electronic waste, tires.
2. Prohibited yard waste: prohibited trash items referenced above and any items not specifically identified in the definition of yard waste.
3. Prohibited bulky waste: prohibited trash items referenced above (with the exception of electronic waste) and any items not specifically identified as being accepted.
4. Hazardous materials.
Unaccepted materials will not be collected; the property owner must remove the items prior to collection.
gg. Walk-up service. Means the collection of a trash and/or recycling cart from a location other than the standard collection location for a residential address. Walk-up service specifically excludes bulky waste and yard waste.
hh. Yard waste. Means garden waste, leaves, lawn cuttings, weeds, shrub and tree waste, prunings, and holiday trees; but does not include dirt, rocks, tree stumps, or any woody items more than three (3) inches in diameter or three(3) feet in length.
ii. Yard waste bundle. Yard waste that is fastened together which shall not exceed forty (40) pounds or two (2) feet in diameter and three (3) feet in length.
jj. Yard waste cart. A cart provided by the designated hauler to an RDU who purchases a yard waste subscription that has a maximum capacity of sixty-four (64) gallons.
kk. Yard waste collection. The pick-up, transportation and delivery to an appropriate processing facility of yard waste discarded in a yard waste cart, or compostable bag not in excess of forty (40) pounds, or yard waste bundle not in excess of forty (40) pounds.
ll. Yard waste collection day. Designated yard waste collection day of the week for an RDU, which may be the same as the trash collection day. If the yard waste collection day falls on a holiday or other collection delay, services will be delayed one day and may be provided on a Saturday.
ii. mm. Yard waste subscription. Separate weekly yard waste collection from mid-April through Mid-November April 15 through November 30 with specific dates set annually by the department, weather permitting, that an RDU property owner may receive upon request. The city will provide the yard waste cart to a subscribing RDU. Requests for subscription services must be made by January 31 annually. A subscribing RDU may fill the yard waste cart and up to eight (8) compostable bags or bundles each week.
(Ord 18-39, § 1, 9-5-18; Ord. No. 25-63, § 2, 11-19-25, Effective 1-1-26)
Sec. 220.02. Care of trash, residential solid waste and yard waste.
It shall be the duty of every RDU to, at least once every fourteen (14) days, with the exception of RDU's who are on an extended leave suspension, deposit all trash in approved containers for collection by a designated hauler.
a. Trash shall be kept in an appropriate cart provided by the city. Carts shall be maintained and cleaned, and in a state of repair which will prevent leakage. Overflow bags shall be kept inside a building until put out for collection.
b. A RDU may not include any unacceptable materials with trash.
c. All uncontained bulky waste, trash, or yard waste shall be kept in an enclosed building until put out for collection. These requirements do not apply to dumpsters used for construction debris, or refuse as part of an active project or clean-up of that property.
d. Yard waste shall be kept separate from other solid waste until put out for collection in a yard waste cart, compostable bag, or yard waste bundle. Yard waste may be removed by the designated hauler when placed at the collection location, self-hauled by an RDU, or removed by a lawn or landscape business. If yard waste is kept on the site, it is to be composted.
e. RDUs shall not store trash, residential solid waste, yard waste, or bulky waste in a way that creates a nuisance as defined in Chapter 45.
(Ord 18-39, § 1, 9-5-18; Ord. No. 25-63, § 2, 11-19-25, Effective 1-1-26)
Sec. 220.03. Hauling and collection of residential solid waste services.
All trash collected, conveyed and disposed of by residential solid waste haulers for RDUs shall be pursuant to a written contract with the city that will specify the residential hauling districts, base level services, collection hours, additional service options, extended leave policies, and other details relating to services. No person or entity shall engage in the business of residential solid waste collection from RDU's in the city unless it is pursuant to a contract with the city. All previous private contracts between solid waste haulers and RDUs became null and void on October 1, 2018. No new private contract between a solid waste hauler and an RDU for services will be valid.
(Ord 18-39, § 1, 9-5-18; Ord. No. 25-63, § 2, 11-19-25, Effective 1-1-26)
Sec. 220.04. Duties of RDU owners.
It shall be the responsibility of every owner of an RDU to:
a. Choose a trash cart size (and frequency if choosing a small cart) and utilize the base level solid waste services from the designated hauler as contracted by the city. An RDU who fails to choose a trash cart size will be assigned a medium trash cart.
b. Follow the city's guidelines and instructions for storing and setting out residential solid waste materials, including placement of their residential trash, recycling, and yard waste in designated carts for each type of waste with the lid fully closed.
c. Place the trash and any overflow trash bags, bulky waste, yard waste cart and any overflow yard waste bags, compostable bags, and yard waste bundles at the collection location no more than eighteen (18) hours before, but no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection and remove the cart(s) the same day as the scheduled collection day unless the RDU receives walk-up collection. Overflow trash bags or bulky waste placed within a radius of ten (10) feet of the collection location shall be collected by the designated hauler, and any associated collection fees will be added to the coordinated collection invoice for that service period. Any items the property owner or resident does not want to be removed should be placed outside of this distance.
d. Make certain that no yard waste is placed out for collection unless in a city-provided designated yard waste cart, compostable bag, or in a yard waste bundle.
e. Make certain that all bulky items placed out for collection are empty of all food, and liquids, fuels, and removable batteries.
f. Make certain that no bulky waste or, for an RDU who does not purchase yard waste subscription, compostable bags containing yard waste or yard waste bundles are is placed out for collection for an RDU who does not purchase a yard waste subscription, unless the RDU notifies the designated hauler city at least two (2) business days forty-eight (48) hours prior to the collection day.
g. Make certain that no unacceptable materials are placed out for collection within any trash cart, yard waste cart, overflow trash bag, compostable bag, or yard-waste bundle. Haulers will not knowingly pick up unacceptable materials.
h. Provide at least two (2) weeks advance notice to the city the designated hauler that the RDU will not require services for at least four (4) consecutive weeks because of an extended leave so as to obtain pro-rated charge on the next coordinated collection invoice. An RDU may be on an extended leave suspension no more than twice per calendar year and the total suspension time in any calendar year shall not exceed twenty-six (26) weeks.
i. Properly maintain trash, recycling, and yard waste carts in a secure location and be responsible for the cleanliness and safekeeping of the cart(s). An RDU who, through negligence or intentional acts, causes damage to a cart shall be charged for the repair or replacement of the cart. Cart cleanliness is the responsibility of the property owner. Carts will not be exchanged or replaced by the city due to dirt, odor, or other related issues.
j. Contact the city for all customer service requests or inquiries.
k. Make certain that the RDU has a street address number on the dwelling and garage, if applicable, of the RDU in a manner and place that is easily and readily discernible from the collection location by the designated hauler as indicated in SPLC Chapter 71.02 (4).
(Ord 18-39, § 1, 9-5-18; Ord. No. 25-63, § 2, 11-19-25, Effective 1-1-26)
Sec. 220.05. - Base level service and additional service options.
a) Base level service: Each parcel with 1-4 RDU, or opted in properties shall be charged one hundred (100) percent of the fixed costs and one hundred (100) percent of the variable costs for services. Base level service includes pickup of trash in one (1) of the service levels listed below and one (1) free cart change per quarter. Additional cart changes will be charged a fee of $40.00 unless the change is due to a homeownership or tenant change. The base level service includes pickup of twelve (12) bulky waste items and one (1) holiday tree per cart per garbage cart per calendar year. The rates for additional service options shall be adopted by the council by resolution. Beginning January 1, 2026 April 1, 2026, the cost per month, excluding state and county tax, shall be as follows for base level services:
1. Small trash cart every other week: $15.48.....$14.77
2. Small trash cart every week: $21.75.....$20.83
3. Medium trash cart every week: $30.88.....$28.99
4. Large trash cart every week: $38.17.....$35.49
b) Additional service options:
1. An RDU shall pay an additional fee for the disposal of overflow trash bags. An RDU may be charged for an overflow trash bag if its trash cart is not fully closed. An RDU is not required to notify the city for collection of overflow trash bags.
2. An RDU shall pay an additional fee for a yard waste subscription and must contact the city to sign up for this service by January 31 of the service year. The city shall provide the subscribing RDU a yard waste cart. The subscription entitles an RDU to weekly collection of the contents of the yard waste cart and up to eight (8) compostable bags or yard waste bundles each week of the yard waste season for no additional fee.
3. An RDU who does not purchase a yard waste subscription may set out yard waste in compostable bags or in yard waste bundles for a per bag or per bundle fee. An RDU must provide at least two business days advance notice to the city for yard waste to be collected on the yard waste collection day. Yard waste bags or bundles shall not exceed forty (40) pounds or two (2) feet in diameter and three (3) feet in length, and tree, stumps, dirt, or rocks will not be allowed.
4. An RDU shall pay an additional fee for all bulky items not included in the base level services.
5. An RDU may apply to the city for free walk-up service if all occupants residing at the RDU are physically unable to place trash at the collection location. An RDU who is not eligible for free walk-up service may apply to the designated hauler to receive garbage walk-up service for a fee; there shall be an additional fee for any non-eligible RDU whose collection location is more than one hundred (100) feet from the public roadway.
6. An RDU, who fails to comply with set-out requirements, who requests the designated hauler to return to pick up trash or yard waste or requests off-day service pickup from the designated hauler may receive such service for an additional fee.
7. Replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged cart due to misuse or neglect by the RDU shall be considered a cart change.
c. Cart-sharing allowed. Beginning January 1, 2026, eligible properties may share carts after notifying the city and complying with the requirements of this section.
1. Eligible Properties. A Lot may use one (1) cart for trash collection if the Lot contains:
(i) A residential building containing two (2), three (3), or four (4) Residential Dwelling Units;
(ii) A residential building containing at least five (5) Residential Dwelling Units where the Lot owner has opted into the Residential Coordinated Collection services under this chapter, and the owner agrees to allow the dwelling-units in the building to share one (1) or more carts for trash collection.
(iii) Adjacent two to four (2-4) dwelling units that have the same property owner may request dumpster service from the city. If the city's designated contractor city services are unable to provide dumpster service, the property owner may contract with a private hauler with city approval.
2. No Additional Fees. There will be no additional fees for cart-sharing. All regular fees, charges, or assessments under this chapter will still apply.
3. Penalties for overflow trash. Any Lots who cart-share under this section will face the following penalties for overflow trash bags:
(i) The first overflow trash bag will result in an education tag being left on the Lot's shared cart or dumpster.
(ii) If the Lot has a second overflow trash bag within any two- (2) month period from the first overflow, the city will notify the property owner that if a third overflow trash bag occurs within two (2) months of the first overflow, a medium trash sixty-four (64) gallon cart will be delivered and charged to the Lot owner.
(iii) If the Lot has a third overflow trash bag within two (2) months of the first overflow, a sixty-four (64) gallon cart will be delivered and charged to the Lot owner by the first day of the following month of residential collection service.
(iv) If a Lot with a shared sixty-four (64) gallon cart experiences three (3) instances of overflow trash bags within any two- (2) month period, the Lot's cart-sharing privilege will be revoked and a sixty-four (64) gallon cart will be delivered to each RDU on the Lot by the first day of the following month of residential collection service.
(Ord 18-39, § 1, 9-5-18; Ord 19-67, § 2, 11-13-19; Ord 20-32, § 2, 11-18-20; Ord 22-44, § 2, 11-2-22; Ord 23-47, § 1, 10-25-23; Ord 24-36, § 2, 12-11-24; Ord 24-40, § 2, 1-8-25; Ord. No. 25-63, § 2, 11-19-25; Ord. No. 25-77, § 2, 12-3-25)
Sec. 220.06. Payment of charges.
Each property owner shall receive a quarterly coordinated collection invoice from the city per RDU. Each RDU shall be billed for all trash collection costs. Failure to pay for services shall result in the special assessment of the costs of those services, along with any applicable fees, penalties or administrative costs against the real property on which the RDU is situated.
(Ord 18-39, § 1, 9-5-18)
Sec. 220.07. Delinquent accounts.
a. Payment options. Each RDU owner must pay the total amount set forth in the quarterly coordinated collection invoice on or before the due date listed on the invoice.
b. Delinquent accounts. Accounts shall be considered delinquent when any portion of the balance due exceeds forty five (45) days past due.
c. Notice to owner. The city shall notify property owners deemed to have delinquent accounts. Property owners shall have thirty (30) days to make payment in full to the city. Such notice shall include the time period for which the account is delinquent, the amount of delinquency and a list of the delinquent items on the account. Such notice shall also state that if the city does not receive payment within thirty (30) days, the amount owed shall be assessed to the property.
d. Assessment of delinquent accounts. The delinquent account shall be a debt owed to the city and any unpaid costs shall be collected by special assessment under the authority of Minn. Stat. § 443.29 and the Saint Paul City Charter by the procedure outlined in Chapter 60 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code. Unpaid costs shall include additional interest set by city council when transferred to Ramsey County Property Taxes. Action under this section does not preclude any other civil or criminal enforcement procedure.
(Ord 18-39, § 1, 9-5-18)
Sec. 220.08. Severability.
In the event that any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity shall extend only to the section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase affected, and shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this article.
(Ord 18-39, § 1, 9-5-18)
SECTION 3
This ordinance shall become effective January 1, 2027.