Board members debate proposed change to trash ordinance

LYNN – A proposal to alter the current trash ordinance requiring residents to properly cover their barrels and remove them from the street in a timely manner was discussed Tuesday at a Public Property Committee meeting.If approved, the ordinance change would take effect 31 days after it’s adopted by the City Council, and would require residents to place their trash outside no earlier than 5 p.m. on the day before scheduled pickup and no later than 7 a.m. on the day of.In addition, all barrels must be removed from the sidewalk no later than 6 p.m. on the day of collection.The previous ordinance allowed residents to place their trash outside of their home after 3 p.m. on the day before scheduled pickup.Ward 5 City Councilor Paula Mackin said she and Ward 6 City Councilor Peter Capano devised a plan to amend the current litter and refuse ordinance to better serve the city and curb the rampant rodent problem.The growing problem has plagued the city in recent years due to improper disposal of trash, barrels without covers and refuse strewn about on the streets, allowing rats to pick apart the trash in hopes of scoring their next meal.”If you’re offering a meal to the rodents, then they won’t go away,” Mackin said. “But as long as the trash container lids are sealed tight, they will hopefully go someplace else. After all, rodents are not our friends.”Councilor at Large Charles O’Brien requested the first offense be a warning rather than a fine to let residents ease into the new requirement.The second offense would result in a $100 fine and subsequent offenses would be $300 each time. The Department of Inspectional Services (ISD) would enforce the fines.”We have had people step up to the plate and purchase barrels with covers, and Lynn Lumber has done a great job selling barrels (at a reduced price), but if everyone bought one, it would be great.”The proposed ordinance also calls for all trash to be stored in a heavy, plastic or metal container with a tight fitting cover that is fly and rodent resistant, nonflammable and waterproof.However, on the day of trash pickups, residents would be allowed to place trash in heavy-duty plastic bags on the street.”The trash is generally picked up pretty quickly on the day of, so it shouldn’t be a problem to place it on the sidewalk briefly,” Mackin said.