News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Grace Weaver, an employee at Downtown Scoops in Alpena, tosses a piece of trash into a full trash receptacle while at work on Friday. Trash cans are filling faster in downtown because there has been more foot traffic and activity.

ALPENA — Having more people visiting downtown Alpena is a positive for local business, but, with more people eating and drinking, trash is quickly accumulating in downtown receptacles.

The Alpena Downtown Development Authority and City of Alpena are working to make sure trash cans are emptied more frequently. They are also asking business owners and employees to chip-in and empty the garbage if they notice full or overflowing cans.

At Tuesday’s DDA meeting, Red Brick Tap & Barrel owner Corey Canute, who also sits on the authority, said he has noticed an increase in trash in heavily used parts of downtown. He wondered if the opening of the social district in July has caused more garbage, or if the high number of tourists coming to Alpena has caused the increase.

A social district allows people to drink alcohol purchased at restaurants and bars from 11 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week and consume them in publicly owned spaces, or in other businesses that allow the alcoholic beverages inside.

DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry said she is sure some of the special cups used for the district end up in the trash, but she believes most of the garbage comes from people who are visiting downtown, grabbing an ice-cream cone, drink or snack and then disposing of wrappers or containers.

“I think it is related to the increase in foot traffic we have seen,” Gentry said. “Whether you have more people downtown, whether it is to use the social district for an event, there is going to be more trash, which is a good problem to have.”

City Manager Rachel Smolinski said the city’s Department of Public Works empties the trash bins often. If business owners notice a full can, they’re encouraged to call DPW to have it emptied. If DPW employees aren’t immediately available, businesses are encouraged to remove full trash bags and put new trash bags in.

Downtown Scoops owner Aaron Buza said overflowing trash receptacles are an issue that goes back to last summer when he began to notice trash cans filling up more quickly. He said the trash cans at Culligan Plaza, near Downtown Scoops and Fresh Palate, and near Mango’s Tequila Bar, seem to fill the fastest because that is where a majority of the foot traffic is.

Buza said he often empties the trash cans and changes the bag, but hasn’t lately because the cans are attracting bees and doesn’t want himself or his staff to get stung.

“I think one solution is for the city to add another day when they empty them,” he said. “I have been changing them for years trying to help, but we are seeing more foot traffic now and they fill up faster.”