Budget shortfalls have required the city to reconsider some programs recently, such as the downtown meters and the trash bag program.

As long as the city has had trash pick up, it has provided black trash bags as a part of the original agreement with the citizens. Initially, trucks would drive around the city and throw these trash bags into people’s yards, but the city progressed to the mail-voucher system that would provide these trash bags for the residents of Columbia.

The bags are thick and high-quality — about 1.75mm thick, which is thicker than most bags bought at the grocery store. The city provides 75 bags that are handed out three times a year per resident. The vouchers used are for 25 free bags.

The continuous provision of these trash bags has become a cost for the city.

“The budget is over $300 thousand a year, but we really spend about $500 thousand a year to provide the trash bags to all the citizens,” Second Ward Councilman Michael Trapp said. “In order to keep this service at its present level, we would have to have a rate increase of about $1.58 a month to maintain it.”

The City Council is discussing the trash bag program because of how expensive it has become to maintain, as well as the fact that recent studies have shown that not every citizen produces the same amount of trash.

“From what I’ve seen and from what other people report, about half the people use the bags and half the people don’t, because there is not a requirement that you use the trash bags,” Trapp said.

In the last council meeting, other alternatives for the trash bag program were discussed. One option would be limiting the number of bags handed out, limiting to 50 bags instead of 75 per resident. This would maintain a balance of spending that would allow the city to still provide free trash bags.

As for now, the current trash bag program will stay in use for at least another year. The city council is working on alternative solutions for the future.

“We’re looking at how can we expand recycling which would save us landfill costs and how much would it cost to maintain the present system,” Trapp said. “Then we were going to compare how much it would cost to do either a roll cart system, or there is another pay-as-you-throw model. Right now, there’s people that can throw away an unlimited amount of trash; and everybody pays the same.”

The pay-as-you-throw model would allow citizens to pay for the amount of trash they dispose of. Whether that be through the size of their bin or the number of bags they use, the system would be more effective for the individual. Redesigning the system won’t happen until at least after the first meeting in October because the city council has to wait for the consultation report to be released.

“There is an organized campaign, a small group of people who are highly motivated on the issue, but I wouldn’t say I’ve gotten a lot (of response from the public),” Trapp said. “I’ve gotten some feedback, it cuts both ways, but I’ve probably heard from more people who would like to maintain the trash bag system.”

As for now the trash bag system will be staying around until a better option is discussed. The city council is working hard to provide a system that is both effective in cost and function for the people.