Rally Round the 3-Ply Garbage Bag

By Marti Speights and Carol Greve

We are loving our clean streets. Even the scent of our lovely white mules is gone from the sidewalks and streets of the Corn Stalk Hotel on rue Royal. The Mayor's contract with SDT is working wonderfully.

The issue that folks in the Quarter and the Department of Sanitation are going round and round about is the heft and size of the rolling garbage carts.

Objections of Quarterites include:
• Residents have no place to store the carts
• Carts will be left on the sidewalks and streets, compromising our neighborhood's antique beauty
• Parked cars will bar the automatic arms of the garbage trucks and render the system ineffective.

These objections seem logical and reasonable to us.

The Mayor's Sanitation Director, Ms. Veronica White, maintains that garbage cans with lids are a Federal requirement (EPA and DEQ) to combat the over-run of rats since the storm. Despite their concern for a city overcome with vermin, the Sanitation Department has graciously agreed to grant an exemption for the use of the roll carts for disabled citizens or those whose residence have no place to store the carts.

How to apply for an exemption:
Send a written request for "An Exemption from Use of the Roll Cart for Garbage Collection" to the:
City of New Orleans Department of Transportation, 1300 Perdido Street, Suite 01W03, New Orleans, LA 70112 ATTN: Cart Exemption Request

Exempted residents must set out their trash in 3-ply black garbage bags. White trash bags and grocery bags are not allowed. The City Council changed the city's laws on trash disposal on Thursday, April 19, so that residents who have not been granted an exemption must use the roll carts. New penalties for violators are a fine of at least $150 for a first offense, a fine of at least $250 for a second offense, and for a third or subsequent offense, a fine of at least $500 and a jail term of anywhere from five to 90 days. The new law says, "It shall be unlawful to place out for collection garbage or trash that is not properly contained within a city-provided roll-off cart." Garbage must be placed in disposable plastic bags before it is placed in carts, and tree branches and shrubbery must not be placed in the carts. Carts are to be placed on the street after 4 p.m. and must be moved back onto the customer's property by 7 p.m.

How to register for your cart:
1. On-line: www.cityofno.com
2. By mail: Obtain a mail-in registration form at a N.O. Public Library, ACORN, the Sewerage & Water Board or a NORD Center.
3. By phone: Call your garbage collection vendor at (504) 940-0229

Meanwhile, Sanitation Director Veronica White has said that she will approve most of the exceptions she receives, so if you do not want a cart, write a letter and make a case for your exception. It is highly likely that your request for an exemption will be approved.

If you wish to register an opinion on this issue, the Times-Picayune is still printing "cart controversy editorials". They also have a reader's blog which can be reached at http://inyourownwords.blogs.nola.com/default.asp?mode=blog&category=57423.