City of Minot continues educating residents on automated trash collection rules

Minot, N.D. – The City of Minot is continuing efforts to educate residents on its automated trash collection system, which was introduced in 2017 to improve safety and efficiency.

The system uses trucks equipped with mechanical arms to lift and empty garbage containers, eliminating the need for workers to manually collect trash from the back of trucks.

City officials said education remains an ongoing process to ensure residents follow collection guidelines. Sanitation crews have been placing bright green tags on containers to notify residents of violations, including improper placement or overfilled carts.

In recent weeks, crews have focused on overloaded containers after previously emphasizing the “three-foot rule,” which requires carts to be placed away from obstacles such as fences, vehicles, and other objects.

Officials said approximately 1,500 carts have been tagged over a two- to three-week period. While crews initially continued collecting trash despite violations, they noted that containers may not be serviced if issues are not corrected after the warning period.