Columbia council looks at roll cart ordinance Monday

The Columbia City Council gets its first official look at a potential ballot issue on using roll carts for trash.

It is the first read Monday night of a proposition asking voters to remove restrictions on automated options for picking up curbside trash and recycling. The council needs to approve it by the mid-August meeting to get it on the November ballot.

Columbia voters banned considering roll carts in 2016. The city suspended curbside recycling service in early July, blaming a severe staffing shortage.

Here’s what Proposition 1 would look like on your November ballot:

Shall an ordinance removing restrictions on the use of automated residential refuse and recycling collection, including authorizing the use of roll carts for refuse and recycling, be passed?     Under the proposed ordinance, existing Sections 22-159(f), 22-159(g), 22159.1(d) and 22-159.1(e) of the City Code prohibiting the use of residential roll carts and automated refuse collection vehicles for roll carts would be repealed.  If approved by the voters, the use of residential roll carts for refuse and recycling and the purchase of automated refuse collection vehicles would be allowed, but not required.