By Allison Maass/Murphy News Service

Richfield Community Services Commission members continued to discuss possible organized garbage collection in the city on Tuesday with the hope of curbside collection being added to the deal.

Now the commission has the opportunity to watch how it works out in another city. Neighboring community Bloomington received proposals from the seven trash haulers for an organized trash collection, and has created a committee to consider and research possible organized hauling.

“What is nice for us is we can kind of watch them and see what they are doing,” Jim Topitzhofer, Richfield parks and recreation director, said.

Teresa Kruse, commission member, also recommended looking into curbside collection for the city along with organized hauling. She said her sister lives in Bloomington and receives the service, and that Richfield residents should too.

“If we could do that we could eliminate trash in backyards,” Edwina Garcia, city council member, said.

Curbside collection is a service the city would provide to pick up items such as couches and tables that people put out near the end of their driveways.

Topitzhofer said curbside collection could work as a type of recycling program if other citizens picked up the items put out on the street.

If it is possible to save citizens costs through organized garbage collection, then that could also be used as leverage to advocate for curbside collection in the city, Carolyn Engeldinger, commission member, said.

“It would go a long way into making the city look better,” Engeldinger said.

The commission will be meeting with the Richfield City Council at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at the Richfield Municipal Center to discuss possible organized garbage collection and next steps.

Reporter Allison Maass is studying Journalism at the University of Minnesota.