Flint Mayor Karen Weaver Says No Trash Collection Until Further Notice

In statement Saturday night, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said there will be no trash collection until further notice due to the city no longer having a waste removal contract. Garbage won't be picked up beginning Monday (full statement from Weaver below).

The contract for waste collection has been an ongoing issue between the mayor and city council. Weaver recommended a $17.5 million bid to Rizzo Environmental Services which had ties to former Mayor Woodrow Stanley. The Flint City Council wanted to remain with Republic even though their bid was $2 million more. Weaver then vetoed City Council's decision and they later voted to override her decision. The matter is now in the hand of Genesee County Circuit Court.

Flint City Council President Kerry Nelson told MLive the decision to end trash services are "exclusively the decision of Mayor Karen Weaver." Nelson said they will ask the judge to "reinstate garbage pick-up" pending the outcome of the lawsuit filed against the  Weaver administration. The judge is expected to hear the issue on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Mayor Weaver's full statement: Flint city leaders are still working to secure a waste collection contract now that the previous service agreement with Republic Services has expired.  Due to the circumstances, there will be no trash pick up in the city starting this Monday, August 1, 2016. Until a new agreement is officially in place, we ask that residents not set their trash out at the curb to prevent animals from disturbing it and making the situation worse. "We hope to have a new agreement in place that will allow crews to resume trash collection by the middle of the week," said Mayor Weaver. "We realize this is an inconvenience and we're working to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, we appreciate and thank the citizens of Flint for their cooperation."