On trash collection day, garbage men fail to notice Homer as he wrestles with an overflowing can on the side of the house. Outraged, Homer hurls insults at the garbagemen. A few moments later, a disheveled Homer tells his family the city is cutting off their collection service. Spiteful, Homer uses the lawn as a makeshift dump. An exasperated Marge begs her husband to offer the garbagemen an apology. When Homer refuses, Marge sends the Sanitation Commissioner a written apology, forging Homer’s name at the bottom. Angered, and feeling violated, Homer confronts the Commissioner, Ray Patterson, in person. A verbal altercation ensues, and Homer registers to run against Patterson in the upcoming election.

Anxious to reach young voters, Homer sneaks on stage during a rock concert and spouts campaign rhetoric—until security guards drag him away. Feeling dejected, Homer tells Moe his campaign has turned disastrous. Moe suggests he develop a slogan that appeals to the laziness in everyone. Inspired, Homer promises voters that, if he is elected, garbagemen will provide round-the-clock trash pickups, rake leaves, wax cars, and perform just about any other labor-intensive task that voters dread most. Shortly thereafter, Homer wins the election by a landslide.

Once in office, Homer spends his department’s entire budget in a month. Desperate, but inspired, he raises cash by allowing other cities to dump their refuse inside an abandoned mine that runs beneath the city. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of trash overloads the mine: the ground beneath Springfield literally bursts at the seams, and rotting garbage spews from the ground. Mayor Quimby reinstates Patterson, but the irate politician refuses to accept the job. Left with little choice, Quimby transplants the entire town five miles away.