Southampton Reinstates Trash Cans After Backlash Over Removal Plan

Southampton, N.Y. — Town officials on Friday reversed a plan to remove trash cans from downtown after a backlash from residents who threatened to dump garbage on Town Hall. The upscale seaside community moved to eliminate public bins along main streets in four hamlets after Labor Day, but the decision sparked widespread anger and led officials to restore the bins.

Following Labor Day, town crews removed bins along main streets, leaving sidewalks littered with trash and prompting residents and shop owners to organize demonstrations and warnings of protests at Town Hall. The episode drew commentary from locals who questioned the board’s judgment and governance.

Town Supervisor Maria Moore described the action as a miscommunication and said the resolution did not explicitly address garbage removal, adding that she interpreted the measure as focusing on sidewalk repairs rather than maintenance that includes cleaning streets.

Highway Superintendent Charles McArdle defended the policy but acknowledged confusion about how broadly the measure could be applied. He told The Post that maintenance included sidewalk cleaning, and he did not realize broader implications needed explicit board explanation. He also noted that the town’s highway department budget of about $12.5 million is aimed at roads rather than trash pickup on state and county streets, and that garbage collection in the four hamlet downtowns cost roughly $110,000 last year.

McArdle argued that funding for continued garbage collection should come from Suffolk County or the state rather than Southampton, given the town’s budget priorities. Nonetheless, Councilman Bill Pell said the town would “find the funding” to continue garbage pickups at a board meeting last week.

During a board session earlier in the week, residents pressed for transparency. Pamela Harwood, chairwoman of the Bridgehampton Civic Association, criticized the board for what she called a lack of clear explanations and urged greater accountability in the future. A resident who asked not to be named offered a mixed view, saying the board had backtracked but that the public would judge how it handles future missteps.

By the time the measure was rolled back, the decision had already triggered a return of the bins to sidewalks, though some were seen overflowing with garbage as the community contended with the initial disruption and the possibility of a repeat during winter weather. The rescission also included a clause about snow removal along state and county sidewalks that would be paused unless reimbursement was secured, a provision officials say will be revisited if funding is obtained.

The episode underscores how governance decisions in an affluent coastal town can affect routine services and community trust. As Southampton officials reassess their approach to maintenance, residents remain watchful, hoping for clearer policies and reliable municipal services in the months ahead.