Councilmembers Discuss Multifamily Trash Collection Proposal with REBIC


Speaking to REBIC last week, Charlotte Mayor Pro-Tem Vi Lyles, Councilman Ed Driggs, and Assistant City Manager Hyong Yi provided a presentation on a staff budget proposal to eliminate trash collection to some multi-family properties.  The recommendation includes a proposal that would split multi-family housing into two separate categories for the purposes of receiving future trash collection: multi-family residential and multi-family commercial.

Under the plan, owner-occupied residences like condominiums and townhomes would be considered multi-family residential, while buildings with multiple units leased to tenets (like apartments), would be considered multi-family commercial.  Staff is proposing that owner-occupied multi-family residential still receive city trash service, but service be eliminated for multi-family commercial (rentals).

Charlotte City Councilmembers Vi Lyles and Ed Driggs join Assistant City Manager Hyong Yi to talk trash at last week’s REBIC Public Policy Meeting

To date, the proposal has been considered as part of the overall budget discussion as it would potentially save nearly nearly $2 million.  Earlier in the week, Councilmember John Autry indicated an interest in separating out the trash plan from the budget discussion altogether and hinted that he may pitch the idea during Monday night’s upcoming council meeting.  Based on their remarks to REBIC, Lyles and Driggs would likely support taking that course.

On February 1st of this year, during a meeting of Charlotte’s Environment Committee, staff once again recommended elimination of the service to multi-family dwellings.  The issue was referred to the Budget Committee and has been discussed there several times.  When word of the plan reached members of the public, there was an overwhelming outcry and staff was directed to hold two public forums where citizens could express their concerns.  Both were well attended by condominium and townhome owners.

Staff’s latest recommendation comes as a result of some of the feedback they received at the forums. For more information about the forums that took place and to view some of the presentations, click here.

The proposal will receive further consideration at an upcoming April 11th Budget Committee meeting and, as mentioned earlier, may also discussed at the Charlotte City Council meeting scheduled for later that day.

During the business session of last week’s REBIC meeting, the Board  of Governors adopted a policy on the proposal to eliminate trash collection for all multi-family properties. It reads as follows:

It is the position of the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition (REBIC) that the City of Charlotte should NOT eliminate solid waste services for ANY category of residential property. If City Council desires to address a funding gap for this service, we believe it should adopt a policy of gradually progressing toward full cost recovery in a manner that is equitable for all residents.
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