Rural St. Landry Parish residents needing a second trash container are supposed to get one free.
But there are conditions on that free container.
A recent call by a rural resident to Progressive Waste Connections requesting a second can ended with the resident being told it would cost $95.
The resident ended up talking to Timmy Lejeune, District 11 St. Landry Parish Council member, who facilitated the person getting the second container.
Five years ago, Lejeune waged a campaign on the Parish Council for rural residents to get equal treatment for trash pickups. Municipal residents get twice-weekly garbage service, but rural residents get once-a-week service.
Lejeune argued in 2015 that rural residents pay the same 0.8% sales tax and should get equal service.
The sales tax paid to the Solid Waste Commission totaled $10,541,699 in 2020.
Lejeune made his point in 2015 as about 40,000 blue 96-galloon trash containers were distributed in the parish.
In June 2015, the Parish Council passed a Lejeune resolution stating “... requesting St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Disposal District to provide rural residents twice a week trash collection or two garbage containers.”
The resolution passed unanimously.
On Thursday, Lejeune said, “If you live in the unincorporated areas of the parish, rural St. Landry Parish, you were entitled, if needed, two trash cans.”
“And in the municipality, if you need an additional can ... you would to have buy more because trash is picked upon two separate days.”
Richard LeBouef, Solid Waste Commission executive director, said if rural residents have been charged for an additional container they should call him at 337-826-5211.
When the Progressive employee said there would be a charge for a second container it was “misinformation” and a “mistake” that has been cleared up.
The Commission in October 2015 approved a measure that a second free container is authorized when a location is identified twice in a 30-day period as having more garbage than can be contained in one can, LeBouef said.
