Lexington’s proposed garbage policies are great for rats and bad for public health.
Free garbage pickup started as a public health measure to reduce the rat and flea populations that spread disease. Lexington proposes to charge more to anyone with excess garbage, and to sell garbage bags for pickup and disposal of garbage over a set amount. Steel garbage cans were developed to keep the rats out–serving rats lunch in bags is a bad idea.
Charging for excess garbage will result in more garbage on roads, in the woods, and in public trash cans. High taxes at a minimum should assure policies designed to minimize rats and other public health problems; thus, free garbage pickup should be a high priority.
Charles W. Forsberg
