Modesto targeting illegal dumping, helping apartment residents dispose of junk
Modesto will make it easier for apartment residents to dispose of their mattresses, broken furniture and other bulky items through a new program that also is expected to reduce the amount of illegal dumping in the city.
The City Council on Tuesday approved a bulky item pickup program for residents of apartments and other multifamily housing. The program, expected to start in March, is scheduled for one year. The city will monitor the program during that year as part of developing a permanent program.
The program is similar to the bulky item pickup program Modesto offers to residents of single-family housing and its other residential garbage customers.
These residents can arrange to leave exercise equipment, air conditioners, large appliances, mattresses, furniture, tables and similar items at their curbs twice a year for pickup by their trash hauler.
The multifamily program is slightly different. Arrangements for the bulky item pickup would be made through the property manager or owner. And the bulky items would be picked up during the first week of each month.
City officials expect this program will reduce illegal dumping. Officials estimate 35% of the illegal dumping in Modesto comes from multifamily housing, according to a staff presentation at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Residents identified blight and illegal dumping as among their top three concerns in a 2019 public forum, according to the staff presentation.
The cost of the bulky item pickup program is included in residential customers’ garbage bills. The city estimates that monthly cost as 25 cents per household.
The one-year pilot program for multifamily housing will cost $180,000. Modesto will pay for it from the nearly $46 million it has received from the American Rescue Plan Act, the federal pandemic relief effort.
Modesto held three public workshops and spoke with property owners, landlords and its two trash haulers in developing the pilot program. The city will promote the program through door hangers and flyers, as well as events with residents of multifamily housing.
Council members voted 7-0 to start the program, and several praised staff for their work.
“There is no doubt that this will be successful,” Councilwoman Rosa Escutia-Braaton said.
This story was originally published January 25, 2023 at 12:14 PM.
