MACON, Ga. — More than 100 people in Warner Robins aren't happy with the city's new trash policy. One man brought a signed petition against the new rules to the council last night.
The city's previous trash company would scoop up piles of leaves raked to the roadside. Now, people have to bag them.
"I would call this neighborhood tree city," Willie Colbert said.
All down Gawin Drive, you'll see leaves still falling from trees and covering yards.
"I have five oak trees, they produced a lot of leaves this year," Colbert said standing in his backyard.
He has another tree in his own yard and leaves get blown over from his neighbors. It took Colbert and his wife three days to pick up all the leaves.
"I'm thankful that I'm not older and disabled so that I could do it," Colbert said.
He says they filled up 32 bags of trash, and the GFL trash collection company left them sitting for nearly three weeks.
"In the past couple of years, I put leaves out, he was here say no later than three days later," Colbert said.
So Monday night, Colbert and three others took their bag policy concerns to council.
"It's going to have an environmental impact in the landfill by putting plastic bags in there," one man shared.
"It's an undo burden on seniors and low-income folks," another man shared.
"If they're unable to bag a leaf, then you should forgive them," one woman said.
Colbert says he feels the meeting was successful, his leaf bags were picked up early Tuesday morning. However, he still has one question: why do homeowners have to bag the leaves?
"Maybe you can provide us with some help, you have city workers," a statement he poses to city leaders.
Plus with the price of trash bags, Colbert wonders if the city will consider providing them for families.
"Every little bit over it adds up on your end-of-the-month income that you have. You just can't afford to pay people to do those types of things I'm sure in this retirement community," Colbert said.
Mayor Patrick says the city is looking into ways to help.
"Especially those in the community who may have that exemption for putting their can out to the road. We want to do the same thing when it comes to bagging of the leaves," Patrick says.
Nothing is set in stone yet.
Patrick says bagging leaves is the new industry standard.
Patrick says they did a lot of research before picking the GFL company, and they determined that leaf-bagging is a trend across Georgia.