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The City of Omaha has again allowed its waste hauler to collect trash and yard waste together in some parts of the city.

Waste Management began co-collecting yard waste and trash west of 72nd Street last week, about a month earlier than the contract allows.

In all, the hauler picked up trash and yard waste separately citywide for just about three months this year.

They’re supposed to be collected separately from the beginning of April to roughly Thanksgiving, a total of 35 weeks. Instead, the company collected waste separately throughout the city for only 14 weeks this year.

Mayor Jean Stothert said the mayor can make executive decisions for the health and wellness of citizens, regardless of what’s in the contract.

She noted that separate collection usually ends about Nov. 1.

“I have to do what I need to do to make sure people’s trash and yard waste is picked up the day they put it out,” she said.

At least two council members expressed concern that Waste Management again isn’t meeting the terms of the contract.