Poughkeepsie Deploys New Garbage Receptacles

POUGHKEEPSIE – City officials have announced a PILOT program that is deploying city-owned sanitation receptacles along the Eastbound and Westbound arterials. The receptacles are replacing privately owned cans and provide for more aesthetically pleasing uniformity on the two most highly trafficked streets in the City.

After advance notice to affected owners and residents, the new 95 gallon receptacles were distributed by the Department of Public Works team on Thursday, June 30. Customers received two of the large-capacity “totters,” one for regular household garbage and one for recycling. Both cans feature attached lids and are designed to be picked-up by use of semi-automated sanitation vehicles.

In 2019, supported by a grant from Dutchess County, the City engaged MSW Consulting to conduct a comprehensive survey of the City’s Sanitation service. Noting the City provided a high level of service, with twice weekly service, the consultant’s report recommended exploring the use of semi-automation, upgrading outdated equipment, building shared services relationships, and conducting this PILOT program to understand the feasibility of providing totters citywide.

City Administrator Marc Nelson said, “We heard the concerns of the public, many of whom participated in the consultant’s survey. Trash and garbage can lids blowing around the arterials were a frequently-cited concern, along with a strong commitment to maintain twice weekly pickup. While COVID delayed implementation, we’ve met our revised goal to begin this program before summer. This initiative will help us gauge the cost-benefits with an eye toward implementation citywide in 2022.”

Councilmember Natasha Cherry of the 6th Ward said, “This is a well-designed roll-out that uplifts the entire City. It will have a very positive impact, not only for the residents along the arterials who are themselves in the test-group, but for all city residents, visitors and passers-by who otherwise would continue to encounter bags of garbage, as well as a variety of cans, out along these busy thoroughfares twice each week. During the wintertime, and during any stormy weather in fact, blowing trash has been an unavoidable blight on our city. Solving the problem along the arterials is a really good first step.”

Councilmember Yvonne Flowers of the 5th Ward said, “I’m confident that the public will immediately see and feel the impact of this initiative. Loose garbage, cans without lids, and individual bags not placed in cans is a form of blight on our community. I look forward to a successful test period, and am hopeful we will be able to roll this out citywide next year.”
The City reminds all residential sanitation customers that refuse may not be taken to the street prior to 5 p.m. on the day prior to regular collection.