WMOK recently spoke with City of Metropolis Mayor Don Canada regarding complaints from residents having their trash gone through in town.
The Mayor informed WMOK that there is in fact an ordinance that was adopted in 2019, that essentially says that no one is allowed to go through another person’s trash.
Removal of Contents and Contains, 51.23 states :
(A) It shall be unlawful for any person other than a authorized collector employed or contracted by the city or the owner, occupant, tenant or person in possession of the premises for which containers for garbage, refuse, and ashes have been provided, to deposit any article or thing in such containers or to remove, displace, injure, deface, destroy, uncover or disturb such container or any portion of its contents.
(B) Law enforcement officers, while in the performance of their duties, shall be exempt from the prohibitions of this section and the imposition of fines for the violation thereof.
If a homeowner catches someone going through their trash the offender can get a pretty hefty fine. If said homeowner has it on video, takes a picture or records it in some other irrefutable way the person breaking the ordinance can be fined anywhere from $100 to $750 plus court costs.
Mayor Canada also told WMOK that if you see someone rummaging through your trash you can call the police department because that is an ordinance violation. They’re not allowed to go through your trash without your permission.
Chief Harry Masse of the Metropolis Police Department advised WMOK that though he does not have the manpower to assign someone to specifically patrol this type of infraction that it will be enforced.
Hear more on this in today’s WMOK News Check:
Hear our full conversation on the topic with Metropolis Mayor Don Canada:
Hear our full conversation on the topic with Chief Harry Masse:
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