St. Paul Takes Residential Trash Fight to Minnesota Supreme Court

Attorneys in St. Paul, Minn., argued whether city leaders could deny residents a vote on how their trash is collected in Minnesota Supreme Court on August 20.

Initially, city residents were able to choose which trash company they wanted to use and negotiate their own rates. Now, however, the city has taken away that choice and switched to organized pickup with flat rates.

Residents went out and gathered enough signatures to put the question on the ballot in November, but the St. Paul City Council rejected the petition, arguing it already signed a contract with trash companies for the new system. A ruling is expected in time for the November vote.