This website provides the historical information about the City's transition to a coordinated garbage collection program in 2018.

With Coordinated Collection, designated hauler zones are established, and residents are assigned a specific garbage hauler and collection day. The City of Saint Paul implemented a coordinated collection program in 2018.  All 1-4-unit residential properties located in Saint Paul are part of this system.

Coordinated Collection priorities and benefits:

Stable, uniform rates and reasonable, low cost.  Coordinated Collection allows the City to negotiate collectively and ensure that residents are getting consistent service at a reasonable price throughout the City.

Reduction in illegal dumping. When people choose not to sign up for garbage service they often find other ways to dispose of their garbage, including illegal dumping. In many neighborhoods, small and large items are left on the roadside, in the alley, or in public spaces. Illegal dumping effects the entire community by decreasing property values, harming the environment, and costing the City over $300,000 a year to clean up. Having standard service throughout the City reduces the need for residents to illegally dump their garbage.

Reduced truck traffic.  Before coordinated collection, the city had 15 haulers driving across the city resulting in multiple trucks in alleys and streets daily. This traffic creates unnecessary noise, alley and street wear and tear, additional exhaust, and safety issues. Creating a coordinated system means one truck per week serves each alley or street for garbage collection.

Equitable service and pricing. Saint Paul is home to new residents from throughout the world. Having a standard built in service allows all residents to receive consistent service at a uniform rate, not based on their ability to negotiate lower prices.

Quick facts on Coordinated Collection

Coordinated Collection Timeline and History

Community input - Open Saint Paul
Organized Trash Collection Report on Community Input and Draft Goals
Organized Trash Collection Executive Summary
Organized Trash Collection Resolution - Directing the Public Works Department to solicit input from residents to develop draft goals and objectives for implementing a system of organized trash collection. 
Organized Trash Collection Resolution - Accepting "Organized Trash Collection in Saint Paul: Report on Community Input and Draft Goals and
Objectives" from the Saint Paul Department of Public Works.

Coordinated Collection Resolution - Directing the Public Works Department to negotiate a final contract with current Saint Paul haulers.

Coordinated Collection Resolution - Accepting a final contract with the Saint Paul haulers.

  • 15 Licensed residential haulers
  • Nearly 50 meetings since August of 2016
  • 7 Proposals
  • 10 Draft Contracts
  • Final contract meets priorities set by the City Council

Timeline:

  • 2016 - The City gathered resident input and decided to move forward on Coordinated Collection.
  • July 19, 2017 – City Council Public Hearing
  • July 26, 2017 - City Council Meeting and Adoption of Recommended Proposal
  • August 2017 –   Formal contract negotiations begin
  • November 2017 - City Council Approval of Final Contract
  • November 2017-Summer/Fall 2018 – Implementation planning
  • October 2018 - Citywide Coordinated Collection Begins

Last Edited: January 12, 2022