St. Paul looks at consolidating garbage collection

If you live anywhere in St. Paul, today is garbage day. Actually almost every day is garbage day, maybe not for you but for someone in your neighborhood.

The city does not have a centralized garbage collection system. Instead, each homeowner contracts with one of 14 private garbage collectors.

Critics say it's an inefficient, noisy and expensive way to pick up the trash. But it may be changing.

This week the city released results of a survey asking residents about how they want to get rid of their garbage.

Next week the City Council will discuss the idea of organized trash collection.

MPR's Phil Picardi spoke with Kathy Lantry, the city's public works director.