Story Archive

Garbage

In St. Paul, Minn., every household must contract with one of eight trash haulers; if you don’t pay yours, it gets added to your property tax. So what happens if you’re going on vacation? Michael Paymar requested his service be put on hold, and Advanced Disposal told him to fill out a form — and back it up with evidence, such as an airline ticket or a doctor’s note. “What business is it of the trash hauler if I were going to get health care anywhere in the country?” said Paymar. “A doctor or clinic has to send a letter to you that then goes to the trash company?” Worse, the city website says appeals can be directed to St. Paul’s Department of Public Works. “If that form is now at the city,” says Paymar, a former state legislator, “it’s now public data.” (AC/St. Paul Pioneer Press) ...Because it’s the public’s business why you don’t want to pay a city chosen trash company.