RALEIGH, N.C. — After weeks of discussion, the city of Raleigh decided Tuesday to relax the time and fines involving garbage cart placement at the curb.

The City Council voted 6-2 Tuesday to extend the time that residents can place their garbage carts, recycling bins and yard waste at the curb for collection. First-time violators will be issued warnings now, instead of being given a $50 fine.

Effective immediately, items can be taken to the curb as early as noon the day before the scheduled collection. Residents previously could not set out their trash until after sundown the day before collection.

Also, the council changed the timeframe for removing items from the curb following collection. Garbage carts, recycling bins, and any uncollected improperly prepared yard waste or other uncollected improperly prepared household waste must be retrieved from the curb by 7 p.m. the day after collection.

The time change takes effect immediately. Previously, residents had until sundown the day after collection to remove items from the curb.

First-time violators of the city's solid waste collection ordinance will be issued warning notices, rather than face fines, under another change approved by the City Council that also goes into effect immediately. The warning notice will state that the city will impose a $50 fine if a second violation occurs.

Council members also clarified the solid waste collection ordinance regarding where residents can store garbage carts and recycling bins. The ordinance states that the items must be placed in an inconspicuous area on the resident's property.

The council clarified inconspicuous to mean that the bins and carts cannot be seen from the street in front of the resident's house. This change also goes into effect immediately.