Residents along Reservoir Avenue and other streets behind commercial strips should sleep a little easier after the City Council last night approved changes to the rules that govern waste haulers, banning commercial trash pickups earlier than 7 a.m.
Council members said they've received numerous complaints about noise from trash pickup very early in the morning, prompting them to make changes to the law.
Under the old rules, no waste hauler could pick up trash from a commercial or industrial site between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when it occurred next to or across the street or alley from a residential property.
Haulers were also prohibited from picking up trash between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. if the business was located within 200 feet of a dwelling.
The new rules prohibit any trash pickup before 7 a.m. for any reason, regardless of where it's located.
The council also tacked on a measure that would fine violators no more than $100 for each offense with each day a violation occurs considered a separate offense.
Councilman Richard Santamaria, the sponsor of the ordinance changes, thanked his colleagues for their bipartisan support on the bill.
Councilman Don Botts said he received numerous complaints, especially from residents behind Reservoir Avenue who have been bothered by early morning pickups.
"It's great legislation," Botts said.