FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2025
Miles Burnett Launches Petition Calling to Eliminate Binghamton’s “Blue Bags” Trash System
The Pay-to-Throw model adds costs to family’s budgets and litter to neighborhoods
BINGHAMTON, NY -- Today, Binghamton mayoral candidate Miles Burnett launched a petition calling for the city to finally abandon the antiquated Blue Bag trash collection system. The petition condemns Binghamton’s Blue Bag system as costly to city government and its residents. Despite the cost of bags increasing yearly, revenue from bag sales do not even cover the full costs of the city's sanitation services. Additionally, a significant portion of the purchase price of the bags goes toward the manufacturing of Blue Bags, unnecessarily raising costs for city residents. Binghamton’s sanitation system, the petition argues, should continue to be publicly operated, while being more user-friendly, affordable for Binghamton families, and decreasing litter in City neighborhoods.
The petition highlights a myriad of reasons why the Blue Bag system is failing:
-
Blue Bags encourages additional plastic waste causing unnecessary harm to our environment
-
Blue Bags are expensive, difficult to access, and prone to ripping
-
The system encourages illegal dumping, unsanitary trash hoarding, and spreads litter throughout city neighborhoods
-
The Blue Bags attract wildlife, endangering the health of people and pets
-
Revenue generated from the sale of Blue Bags does not pay for the full costs of the city's sanitation services
“The Blue Bag garbage system is trash,” said Mayoral Candidate Miles Burnett. “Everywhere I go, people complain about the Blue Bags. The ever-increasing cost of bags is a strain on people’s monthly budget. This ‘pay-to-throw’ model is outdated. No other municipality in Broome County forces residents to use city bags and Binghamton doesn’t need to either. The problem with our trash collection is not the collection--we have an amazing, hardworking Department of Public Works crew--but the inefficient and frustrating way we fund it. I am committed to common sense improvements to every municipal service, including trash collection. My administration will put in place a more cost effective and environmentally conscious, publicly operated trash collection program for the city and Binghamton families.”
Burnett emphasized that his plan will not privatize any city services and will be affordable for city residents.
Residents can sign the petition on www.endbluebags.com.
###
For more information, please visit www.burnettforbinghamton.com or contact info@burnettforbinghamton.com.