Wyandotte Imposes Waste Container Requirements

Plastic bags will no longer be accepted beginning Feb. 1 unless placed inside a garbage container. 

With the exception of toters leased from the city, trash cans must be 32 gallons or less and have a water tight, fly-proof and odor-proof cover, the city said.   

Ninety-six gallon trash toters are available for rent from the city. Contrary to popular belief, Wyandotte does not require residents to rent containers through the city.  

Kelly Roberts, city development coordinator, said any type of durable metal or hard plastic can with a lid under 32 gallons can be used for trash.

“It’s really just a provision to protect Waste Management workers,” Roberts said. “We don’t want the workers to physically strain or injury themselves trying to manually lift trash cans that are too heavy.”

Collection workers lift between 800 and 1,000 containers per day.

Waste Management trucks can mechanically lift toters, Roberts said.

But the recent mandate isn't limited to a labor issue. City Administrator Todd Drysdale said it’s also a problem of rodent control.

“Some people just use bags and the problem with that is if you have rodents in your area they can get into the trash cans,” Drysdale said.

“This is a good way to ensure that we provide the best solid waste services we can.”

Toters for trash collection are available for lease on a two year basis at $48.

Information about the ordinance, trash collection and toter rentals may be found by clicking here.