Columbia, Mo. Releases Report on Residential Curbside Collection

The city of Columbia, Mo. has released a report about the future of curbside collection in the municipality.

City council members voted to end a curbside city logo bag program in December 2022, and they have since been gathering input from residents and businesses.

In November 2022, officials requested the Solid Waste Utility group gather public input about the implementation of roll carts via online survey. The city held public meetings in early 2023, with results and analysis released in mid-February.

Of the 892 residents who responded, the majority said a move to curbside bins would drastically improve aesthetics, worker safety, ease of use and animal control, among other things. Those opposed to automated curbside collection said roll carts would be "cumbersome" and indicated a concern for the elderly/disabled.

More than two-thirds - 69 percent - of respondents were in favor of the switch to automated collection with bins.

“Carts are easier, carts are more cost effective for the city, and they keep our streets looking better - no more blowing trash," one respondent said.

Along with a concern for the elderly, others stated that automation's impact on human labor should be considered.

“Our trashmen have always been nice, this one cannot replace the human aspect of service," one respondent said. "Does less people/employees mean better? I am not in favor of the automated system. I have seen it's use in other cities and find it is not an improvement to the community.”

Read the report here.