Livonia Unveils New Trash and Recycling Carts to Keep Streets Clean
Residents of Livonia can look forward to a cleaner, greener neighborhood as the city has taken a significant step toward improving waste management. Recently, the Livonia City Council gave the green light for a new five-year contract worth $37 million with Priority Waste, marking a change in how refuse services are handled in the community.
Transition to New Waste Services
Earlier this year, Priority Waste began serving Livonia and over 70 other municipalities that were formerly managed by GFL Environmental. With the contract with GFL now expired, residents can expect a fresh approach to trash and recycling. Starting this fall, each household will have the choice between two sizes of carts: a cozy 64-gallon version or a spacious 96-gallon model. Best of all, these carts will be provided to residents at absolutely no cost!
The official roll-out of these newly designed carts is set for December 1. If residents don’t specify their preferred size, they will automatically receive the more generous 96-gallon bin.
A Word from the Mayor
Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan expressed her enthusiasm for this change, stating, “We are excited to provide these new carts to Livonia residents. We know this is a big change. But we are happy to offer residents the choice of the size of cart they will use. We know this is the most economical way to provide trash and recycling service, while keeping our streets cleaner and helping control rodents.”
Investment in Sustainability
This initiative comes with an annual cost of about $7.2 million, along with an additional $4.14 million from the city’s refuse fund balance to purchase the carts. Livonia’s Chief of Public Relations, Chris Jackett, highlighted that using these carts should significantly reduce litter and streamline garbage collection. He mentioned, “If people have more trash bags than can fit in their cart, or just a single bag, those will still be collected. Bags at the curb are more prone to getting ripped open and must be collected by hand, whereas these carts will secure everything until it is collected by the trucks.”
Features of the New Carts
The new carts aren’t just convenient; they are also designed with features to enhance cleanliness and efficiency. Each cart comes equipped with wheels, ensuring they can easily be rolled to the curb, while tight-fitting lids will help keep litter at bay. The larger recycling containers will promote safer disposal of recyclable materials, ultimately resulting in less waste heading to landfills.
Promoting Community Efforts
Jim Baringhaus, the Greenleaf Commissioner for the city, emphasized this initiative’s role in promoting sustainability: “Recycling carts will increase the number of recycled materials per household while reducing litter. Carts will simplify recycling for our community and make recycling more convenient and effective.”
Looking Ahead
The new system is designed to make operations more efficient by utilizing one-person trucks, allowing for quicker collection without the need for drivers to hop in and out. Matt Allen, Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs for Priority Waste, expressed excitement about continuing their services, “Priority is pleased to continue our technology-driven trash and recycling services for the tremendous residents in the City of Livonia for the next five years.”
Stay Informed!
As part of the roll-out, residents will have opportunities to see the new carts at different city locations and events in the upcoming weeks. For additional information regarding cart selection and to answer any questions, residents can visit LetsRollLivonia.org and expect mailers with more details soon.
With these positive changes on the horizon, Livonia residents can look forward to cleaner streets and a more efficient recycling system. It’s an exciting time for our community!
