WBRZ - Baton Rouge

ST. MARTINVILLE, La. - Residents in rural St. Martin Parish will be required to pay for garbage and trash service beginning in May.

Parish President Guy Cormier tells The Advocate the rural areas also will see a new automated pick-up system that requires residents to use 96-gallon roll carts provided by garbage contractor Waste Management.

Cormier says the majority of rural residents already have voluntary service with Waste Management and the only change for them will be the new carts. He says the mandatory service should bring in a small group of residents who currently burn or bury their trash, toss it into Bayou Teche or leave it in the bins of local businesses.