Resident urges pilot program for standardized trash carts to cut wildlife and stormwater debris

Ricky Valdez, speaking during the public comment period at the Bel Air City Council meeting on Sept. 14, called on the city to test standardized residential garbage carts in a pilot program to reduce torn plastic bags, wildlife foraging and waste moving into storm drains.

"I am asking for an experimental pilot study, select maybe 1 manageable service area or neighborhood and percent or a representative group of homes provide an appropriate standardized cart, run the program long enough to generate meaningful results, then measure the outcome," Valdez said. He framed the request as an evidence-based test, not an immediate citywide mandate, and urged council to task staff with evaluating likely costs, replacement logistics and operational impacts before wider adoption.

The city manager, Sharon Feldman, and the mayor acknowledged the issue has come before council previously and said staff will review the proposal. Feldman noted retrofitting collection trucks and program costs are significant and that a pilot would allow the city to gather objective results before changing service citywide.