At a recent meeting, Milford City Council approved a request from Public Works Director Willis Shafer to adjust trash collection schedules so that solid waste employees no longer had to work on holidays. The change will not only allow employees to be home with their families on holidays but also reduce overtime costs.
“Currently, the City of Milford provides holiday yard waste, trash and recycling collection,” a memo in the council packet, read. “This practice cost the City of Milord taxpayers $27,720 in 2024, and this amount will continue to increase each year. Most municipalities have eliminated bulk, yard waste, trash and recycle collection on holidays to save resources and allow staff to observe holidays with their family members.”
The proposal would eliminate trash collection on holidays. The change would have trash, recycling and yard waste picked up the next day if the originally scheduled date is a holiday. A list provided indicated the following changes:
- January 1 – refuse and recycling on two routes – changed to January 2
- January 19 – yard waste on two routes – changed to January 20
- February 16 – yard waste on two routes – changed to February 17
- April 3 – refuse and recycling on one route – changed to April 4
- May 25 – yard waste on 2 routes – changed to May 26
- June 19 – refuse and recycling on one route – changed to June 20
- September 7 – yard waste on two routes – changed to September 8
- November 11 – refuse and recycling on two routes – changed to November 12
- November 26 and 27 – refuse and recycling on two routes – changed to November 28
- December 24 and 25 – refuse and recycling on two routes – changed to December 26.
The Public Works Committee supported the changes.
“I think this, personally, is a good idea,” Mayor Todd Culotta said. “I think it’s kind of a no brainer.”
Culotta also asked if a mass text could be sent out to notify customers. Shafer explained that it would be included in the city newsletter that was going out the next day.
“The cost savings are nice, but I believe that the driving force behind this is to have those employees home like everyone else,” Councilman Jason James said. “That way they enjoy the holiday like everyone else and I can definitely appreciate that.”
The request was approved by a vote of seven to zero as Councilwoman Katrina Wilson had to leave the meeting before the measure was presented.
