The reason behind moving garbage collection to curbside: it might not be what you think

by Joelle Brassard

City Council voted in the majority last week to move all residential garbage and yard waste collection from alleys to curbs wherever possible starting April 2025. 

 This has caused backlash from Windsorites due to the overwhelming belief that it is due to cost cutting strategies, but ward 3 councilor Renaldo Agostino says that we as a community have the rhetoric confused.  

It’s been reported that it would save the city an additional $576,875 per year but councilor Agostino says that it was his motion in the first place and it had nothing to do with cost savings, but rather the beginning of a long-running plan to clean up Windsor’s alleys for good. 

“The reason I wanted garbage out of the alleys is because I plan on restructuring alleys and making them safer and cleaner which begins with the garbage and our next project will be lighting the alleys,” said Agostino. 

Agostino believes this motion will absolutely improve the quality of Windsor neighborhoods. He understands that change can be difficult but assures that there is a plan in place. 

“The first thing we have to do is clean up the alleys which will then make a significant change for what we want to do to them. Recycling is being picked up out front as well as compost, so what are we doing here? Let’s get a system in place and clean up the alleys,” said Agostino 

Local downtown resident and alley user Irelynn Maloney said that the long-term goal is a good thing, but the short term effects seem daunting. 

“I’m glad the end goal is to create better and safer alleys, but in the meantime, what will happen to our neighborhoods?” said Maloney. “I am afraid people will just continue to put their garbage in the alleys anyways and no one will be responsible for cleaning it up.”  

The consensus from citizens and councilors alike is that they want cleaner and safer alleys to enhance the city and make it better for everyone.