GARBAGE COLLECTION

GARBAGE COLLECTION. Fear of CHOLERA and the uncertainty of what caused it led efforts to clean up the City of Dubuque in 1866. Barrels were first placed in ALLEYS for kitchen waste collection. Sanitary Commission officials visited homes to inspect all buildings to see how much cleaning was needed. (1)

On June 12, 1866 city officials decided to supply all residences in Dubuque with barrels. These were to be used for the collection of all kinds of garbage. A time for the barrels to be picked up would be established when they were delivered. (2)

In August of 1866, the responsibility of cleanup fell directly on the property owners. (3)

           Notice--All persons living on Main Street, from 11th Street to the
           lower market, and from Main to Locust on 1st, are requested to clean
           the gutters in front of their residence, shops or stores on Friday of
           each and every week, and remove the same at their own expense.

           On and after the first of September, the city scavenger will be dispensed
           with and all persons will be required to remove offal at their own
           expense.
                                    William Herman
                                    Sanitary Marshal, Dubuque

All property owners did not attack the garbage cleanup with the same vigor. (4)

            We noticed that there is a good cholera belt on Main street
            between 6th and 7th. The gutter in front of some of the
            business houses is filled with a pool of water three or four
            rods in length, which is fast being converted by a flock of
            geese into one of the most filthy holes imaginable. However
            pleasant it may be to the proprietors to see the fowls splash 
            and dive into the water, it can hardly tend to improve the 
            sanitary condition of our city, and we hope the nuisance is 
            removed immediately.

The note of sarcasm/humor in the previous editorial took on a tone of pleading within days. (5)

            A Nuisance--All the filth and garbage of creation appears to
            have accumulated on Main Street, and the condition of the
            gutters in many places is actually disgraceful to our city
            authorities. Can't something be done to get rid of the nuisance? 

Notes of public "nuisances" continued to be announced in the newspaper, perhaps to encourage those responsible to clean them up. The following editorial appeared in 1872:

            A Dirty Alley--The attention of the street commissioner, sanitary
            officer, or deputy marshal is directed to the horrible condition
            of the alley in the rear of the NEW JEFFERSON HOUSE on Clay
            Street. If ever it wanted cleaning that time is now.  The stench
            arising is enough to knock down a Digger Indian, or a respectable
            hog. Have the corps de shovel give that neglected alley some 
            attention. (6)

As the iced-over river was used by meat packers for the disposal of offal, it was used by some in 1872 for the disposal of decomposed prairie chickens. Members of the DUBUQUE ROWING CLUB protested that carcasses and other offal were being thrown near their boats around 4:00 a. m. (7)

On June 11, 1873, a notice appeared in the Dubuque Herald that anyone responsible for "nuisances" in alleys or outhouses were responsible for cleaning them up. Failure to take the responsibility would lead to arrest and the problem's removal billed to the person in custody. (8)

The board of health directed the efforts in 1873 to clean up "nuisances." In July the WATER DEPARTMENT pledged to the board of health sufficient water for cleaning foul sewers, gutters, and streets. The work of "purifying" the the east and west streets was started immediately and continued throughout the summer. Disinfectants were purchased and distributed by the health officer. Private property needing cleaning would have it done at the owner's expense. Those engaged in cleaning privies were given special notice: (9)

           Parties engaged in the cleaning of vaults, and removal of night soils
           will be summarily dealt with if found employed in such occupations
           before midnight, or in the use of improperly covered carts and utensils
           or if found depositing filth outside of the assigned localities.

           Wells in general use having privy vaults contiguous to them and showing
           evidence of contamination will be closed and the parties prohibited
           from obtaining water therefrom. (10)

Trash did not seem so cheap in 1991. The Dubuque Metropolitan Solid Waste Advisory Board approved spending $231,000 on two pieces of equipment--a Caterpillar used to smash waste before dumping it in the landfill and a power screen used in the final step of the yard-waste composting process to remove large material and contaminants from the compost. (11)

In January 1998 the Dubuque City Council approved an amendment to the housing code that prohibited garbage containers being stored in front yards or on porches of multi-unit properties. Containers stored on the side of buildings had to be screened if they were in view of the street. (12)

In April of 1998 Solid Waste Management Supervisor Paul Schultz proposed a pilot program as a solution. Under the program, the city would provide selected multi-family properties and businesses with large plastic carts for residents to store their trash. Each cart which resembled a dumpster would be the equivalent of about three trash cans. The monthly rate of collection would remain the same. Participants would agree to try and recycle 28 percent of what they threw out. The new carts and equipment for semi-automated pick-up were to be ready by August. (13)

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Source:

1. "Be Prepared," Dubuque Herald, June 12, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660612&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. Ibid.

3. "Notice," Dubuque Herald, August 12, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660812&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

4. "Clean the Streets," Dubuque Herald, September 7, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660907&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

5. "A Nuisance," Dubuque Herald, September 13, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660913&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

6. "A Dirty Alley," Dubuque Herald, August 21, 1872, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18720821&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

7. "A Nuisance," Dubuque Herald, September 12, 1872, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18720912&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

8. "Notice," Dubuque Herald, June 11, 1873, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18730611&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

9. "Board of Health," Dubuque Herald, July 30, 1873, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18730730&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

10. Ibid.

11. "Panel OKs $231,000 for Waste Disposal," Telegraph Herald, May 2, 1991, p. 3A.

12. Wilkinson, Jennifer. "Program Might Trash Need for Amendment," Telegraph Herald, April 22, 1998, p. 1.

13. Ibid.