After years of being able to place unwanted futons, recliners and entertainment centers on the curb for disposal during move- out weekend, NMU students will have to, instead, haul their discarded items to a city rubbish yard this year.
Superintendent of Public Works, Scott Cambensy, said the city decided to end the curbside trash pick-up because of worries about the unsightly piles of trash ruining the city’s scenic views. He also said the city was saving money with the program cut.
“The original curbside rubbish program took place over a month long period. The piles left the city looking pretty bad,” Cambensy said. “There also was a $60,000 cost avoidance because of the elimination of curbside pickup. In the long run it is saving the people on the green bag system a lot of money.”
The green bags are what Marquette residents currently must use for trash disposal.
The $60,000 savings has allowed the Waste Management department to nearly cut their budget in half.
Cambensy added that the decision helped to avoid an increase in the price of the green bags.
While the city’s decision to cut the curb side programs makes financial sense, it has left many NMU students to find a way to haul their items to the disposal spot.
“I don’t like how they stopped doing it. A lot of students move out and don’t have anything to do with their couches,” NMU student and writing major Eric Trombly said. “I think they need to restart it.”
He added that he felt the benefits of the curbside program outweighed the extra cost.
“We’re already paying $11 for a package of those green bags anyways. I’d rather see it increase and still have the pickup,” Trombly said. “The curbside pickup was also a way to recycle things. You see a nice couch on the side of the road and it’s like ‘Hey, a free couch.’ Less stuff gets thrown out that way.”
People wishing to drop garbage off will need to provide a Marquette City water bill in their name and a driver’s license. Because many students rent buildings where utilities are paid by the landlord additional paper work will be needed for some people wishing to drop off trash.
“When you start talking about rental units, often times the utility bill is in a different name,” Cabensy said. “What you need to do then is have the landlord come to the public works building and fill out some minimal paperwork. Then we can just check the name the landlord gives.”
The drop-off site is located at 910 Baraga Ave. and is open Tuesday’s all summer from 4-7 p.m. and every other Saturday. To accommodate the extra traffic caused by students moving out at the end of the school year, the yard will also be open Saturday, April 26th.
