A new era in trash collection begins in Maplewood on Monday when Allied Waste Services trucks, equipped with automatic collection arms, hit the streets.
City officials made the decision in November to contract only with Allied for single-family households, despite stiff opposition from many residents and other trash haulers that served more than 10,000 households in Maplewood.
The city spent eight months studying the issue and said that moving to a single hauler would save residents money and meet environmental goals.
Residents chose from four Allied trash cart sizes in preparation for Monday's kickoff. Carts were manufactured by Otto Environmental Systems of Charlotte, N.C., at a cost of about $422,000.
The city's new trash policy exempted townhouse and manufactured homeowner associations, but they can elect to participate at any time. Businesses and multifamily developments can choose any city-licensed hauler to pick up their garbage.
