After a local department store invents a holiday called Love Day, Homer is left with the task of taking out all of the garbage generated by the festivities at the Simpson home. Not making it to the curb in time for the garbage truck, Homer shouts insults after the garbagemen. They get into an argument that results in the Simpsons having their garbage collection service cut off. Soon, their front lawn is full of trash. Marge writes a letter of apology to the sanitation commissioner and signs Homer’s name to it. When Homer finds out, he goes to city hall to rescind it. After an angry meeting with Ray Patterson, the sanitation commissioner, Homer decides to run for the position.

Though he campaigns at the plant and the local U2 concert, Homer fails to win much support. He then comes up with a slogan, "Can’t Somebody Else Do It?", and proceeds to promise such things as around-the-clock garbage pick up and free car washes. He wins in a landslide.

He goes on to spend his entire year’s budget frivolously within a month. Fearing they won’t be paid, the garbagemen threaten to strike. To come up with more revenue, Homer offers to let other cities dump their trash in one of Springfield’s abandoned mines. Soon, trash is bursting out of the ground. When the town asks Ray Patterson to come back, he refuses. Left with a trash problem they can no longer manage, the people of Springfield decide to move their entire town five miles away.