The Green Park Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance April 15 amending language in the city’s municipal code related to solid waste, outlawing residents from using plastic bags in place of or in addition to traditional waste containers.

The ordinance passed by a vote of 4-3, with Mayor Tim Thuston as the tiebreaker.

“I don’t think there’s many haulers anymore, a lot of them are moving to the mechanical arms. They can’t pick up anything other than the large container,” City Attorney Paul Rost said. “The fact that our definition still had the word ‘plastic bags’ in it was problematic. That’s really not what American Eagle (Waste) does, and nor do they want to do it. That’s the general gist.”

Plastic bags are still permitted when placed inside waste containers, but not standalone. On top of trucks not being able to pick them up when they are not in bins due to their new automated systems, when plastic bags are left outside, they are left to the elements and can cause a mess for the city.

“You can bet that you get coyotes, you get skunks, you get dogs, you get crows – you get all kinds of animals,” Thuston said.

Before the ordinance was passed, Ward 2 Alderman Tammy Witzig brought up the fact that Green Park has a fairly large elderly population who may have trouble maneuvering the large trash bins. She brought up her mom who lives in neighboring Crestwood, and how she has already fallen trying to bring her waste container can to the curb. Deputy City Clerk Diane DeLonjay agreed, stating that due to her driveway’s incline, she has also fallen going down with her bin.

“She’s on an incline, and most of our driveways are,” Witzig said. “I do worry about that. I probably wouldn’t have thought about it so much except I see the people in Crestwood having a problem. I called (Crestwood’s) trash company, they’re not willing to do anything because that’s the contract in place. I think we need to think about it just for a second because we do have a lot of elderly people.”

Rost recommended holding the item until the board’s next meeting in May so staff could have time to figure out ADA accommodations, though the board decided to go ahead and hold a vote. Acting Board President and Ward 3 Alderman Joe Monteleone and both Ward 1 Aldermen  Michael Broughton and Carol Hamilton were in favor of the ordinance, while Ward 3 Alderman Marty Finn, and Ward 2 Aldermen  Ron Slattery and Witzig were opposed. Due to the tie, the mayor had to be the tie-breaking vote. Thuston voted in favor and the ordinance passed 4-3.