By Rachel Lippmann, KWMU
St. Louis – A federal appeals court has ruled that St. Louis County should have followed state law when implementing its new trash districting plan.
The court did not stop the County from operating the plan, which went into effect October 1.
It ruled that county officials were bound by state law to give private trash haulers two years notice of the new plan.
The law also allows the County to compensate private haulers for their loss of business if the new companies are offering very similar services.
The County Council approved the trash districts in December 2006.
The plan divides the unincorporated areas of St. Louis County into eight districts, and assigns a trash hauler to each.
Opponents of the trash plan say they are happy with the ruling.
The County says it will appeal.