Wednesday morning, in an alley near Peaches Restaurant on Second Street, five garbage cans stood uncollected.

City garbage trucks usually dump all six containers in the back street, but because of cars parked on both sides, those five stood full.

In an attempt to solve missed garbage collections, the Casper City Council initially approved to change an ordinance that would require alleys to be 15 feet wide instead of 10 feet. The council will need to pass the ordinance two more times for it to become law.

Casper City Manager Tom Forslund told the council members in a recent meeting that most sanitation trucks require 11 feet to pass through alleys, which means the current 10-foot standard is not enough.

The problem is particularly bad in older neighborhoods where the alleys are narrower.

If the council approves the change two more times, the ordinance would make it illegal to park in a way that narrows the alley to less than 15 feet.

But, Forslund said, a penalty by law enforcement will be the last resort. City staff members will "work on the project with sensitivity."

Truck drivers will first leave notices on people's cars letting the owners know that the trucks can't fit in the alley.

Narrow alleys can also be problematic for emergency vehicles such as fire trucks.

City staff members will launch a public information campaign if the council approves the change to let people know about the new ordinance.

The council also initially approved an ordinance banning electronics from the landfill. If the council votes "yes" on the ordinance two more times, it will be illegal to place any kind of electronic in a trash receptacle.

In response to the ban, the council approved making recycling electronics free at the landfill. Each Casper homeowner's bill will increase an average of 12 cents per month, or $1.44 a year.

Right now, it costs $10 per item to recycle electronics at the landfill.

Since the council approved the change, it will be free to recycle electronics on Dec. 1. Homeowners will be able to bring electronics to the landfill as many times each month as they need, and it won't count against their one-per-month allotted landfill use.

Solid Waste Manager Cynthia Langston said most electronics contain hazardous metals such as lead and mercury that can are hazardous to the landfill.

As with the alley ordinance, if the council ultimately finalizes the ban on electronic waste, the city will hold a public information campaign to increase awareness of the change, which would happen April 1.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com

News tracker

Last we knew: The Casper City Council held an amnesty day in September to collect unwanted televisions and collected more than 600 TVs.

The latest: The Casper City Council initially approved to ban electronic waste from the landfill, but will need to approve it two more times for it to become law. It also voted to accept all electronics for free and increase garbage rates about 12 cents per month.

What's next: The council will vote two more times before the ban on electronics is final. If it is approved, it will come into effect on April 1.

Last we knew: The Casper City Council held an amnesty day in September to collect unwanted televisions and collected more than 600 TVs.

The latest: The Casper City Council approved for the first of three needed approvals to ban electronic waste from the landfill. It also voted to accept all electronics for free and increase garbage rates about 12 cents per month.

What's next: The council will vote two more times before the ban on electronics is final. If it is approved, it will come into effect on April 1.]]>