Noisy trash pickups making Richmond City Council reconsider sound control rules

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Noisy trash trucks going through Richmond early in the morning are driving council members to propose changes to the city’s sound control rules.

An ordinance proposed by 2nd District Councilwoman Katherine Jordan and 5th District Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch would change the hours that Richmond’s trash collection and sanitation services are exempt from the city’s sound control provisions in the city code.

Richmond’s noise rules say people in residential areas can’t make a sound over 65 decibels – a level the National Hearing Conservation Association says is a normal conversation – between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. The sound level can exceed 55 decibels from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Under the current rules, the city’s trash collection and sanitation services aren’t required to follow Richmond’s sound-level regulations between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. The proposal from Jordan and Lynch would shorten that window to between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.

“These changes will address noise issues that residents have been experiencing with trash collection and noise from dumpster handling during the early morning hours,” the ordinance request paperwork reads.

At a Wednesday meeting, the city council’s Governmental Operations Standing Committee decided not to move the proposal forward and continued it to be heard at the committee’s meeting on July 24.

“We’re getting close to working on a solution for that one, but that paper will be continued,” Jordan said of the proposed ordinance during Wednesday’s meeting. A liaison for Jordan did not respond to emails seeking additional details.

City officials have reported struggling to collect fines due to difficulty tracking who could be responsible for violating noise rules.

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