Evidence of late-night partying, residents' trash and business owners' waste have pushed the Clean Committee, composed of the Athens Uptown Business Association and other citizens, to bag the trash problem on Court Street.
The group presented a list of ideas to Athens City Council in yesterday's meeting to clean the streets by eliminating curb-side trash pick-up, providing more convenient recycling containers and enforcing litter laws that are already in place.
It's time to address the gum
the cigarette butts the overflowing trash cans and the vomit said Linda Philips, a member of the Clean Committee.
Because residents and business owners on Court Street have small living spaces and no large, central dumpster in which to leave their trash, most of it sits on the sidewalk, she added.
To solve the problem, Michael Gosnell, a solid waste control inspector, introduced a plan to install 60-gallon containers for recyclables and centralized dumpsters that would each take up a single parking spot. This would keep trash bags off the streets and encourage recycling, he said.
People would have to walk farther distances to dispose of their waste but Philips said that over time residents would appreciate the benefits of nicer streets.
Just walking from the other end of campus to [the city building] at 5 p.m.
the public trash cans are already overflowing
said Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-at large, adding that she was glad the city could work together with business owners to solve the problem.
The Clean Committee members also suggested using a sidewalk cleaning machine on a regular basis to beautify Court Street and make businesses appear more attractive.
Mayor Paul Wiehl said that the plan would only work if city officials crack down on litter laws.
There are people who want to clean the streets
but there's obviously people that just don't care
he said. Residents and business owners are technically responsible for the trash 18 inches from the curb, and the law does not get enforced, he said.
The city picks up an estimated 15 to 20 cubic yards of compacted trash daily off Court Street, Gosnell said.
It is unclear when council will make decisions on the Clean Committee's suggestions, Wiehl said.
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Caitlin McGlade
