BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Metro Council has finalized a plan that will keep garbage pickups rolling twice a week but with a significant price hike. 

The Metro Council approved changes to the 2023 budget to accommodate the updated garbage collection contract, which takes effect in March. The new plan will cost residents about $35 a month, whereas the old plan was about $23 a month.

The council first approved the amended contract last month after discussions about potentially limiting pickups to just once a week while still ratcheting up fees.

Some council members, like Dwight Hudson don't agree with the new contract. He told WBRZ that $35 is just too much because of inflation. 

"It's definitely rough on those on a fixed incomes. Those costs add up overtime and they are adding up on everything else."

Councilman Daryl Hurst agrees with the contract that passed. He told WBRZ once a week was not going to cut it. 

"South Louisiana would be the stinkiest place on earth. Keeping those two days a week makes sure we keep our odor down, our blight down and make sure Baton Rouge is the best place to work, live and play," Hurst said. 

He also says a lot of trash would be left behind in his district if trash pick up was only once a week. 

"By continuing that second day we are going to mitigate for those opportunities for those piles to increase in those communities, so I am so happy the underserved have a voice in the council because they voted for those two days."

This contract will likely be signed by Republic on March 1.