Council discusses solid waste contract, recycling

SIKESTON -- With the city of Sikeston's current solid waste collection contract up at the end of June, the Sikeston City Council heard discussion on what could be included in a new contract during Thursday evening's community outreach meeting.

The biggest item discussed during the meeting was recycling as the Council has expressed an interest in expanding the city's recycling opportunities. "The only question is how much and at what cost," said Sikeston City Manager Jon Douglass.

Douglass told the Council they had several options, including continuing the same services with enhanced marketing, expanding hours at the current drop off sites, adding drop off sites and curbside recycling.

The City offered a survey to residents about recycling and Douglass said about 500 responses were submitted. According to the survey, residents are interested in recycling more, especially curbside recycling, but "the interest waned as the hypothetical price rose," Douglass said.

Currently, Sikeston offers recycling drop off sites at Sonny's Solid Waste (451 Smith Ave.) and the Compost Site on Compress Road during certain given times. Residents can recycle things like food plastics, cardboard, milk jugs and aluminum cans but not styrofoam or glass.

Mike Glaus, manager at Sonny's Solid Waste, said they take about four-and-a-half tons of recycled goods a month to Cape Girardeau, which is the only place locally that will accept it.

"Sonny's pays for that," Glaus said, adding that they are charged $18 per tub. "The citizens don't pay for that."

While the interest in curbside recycling is high, with 90 percent of those taking the survey interested, some issues were brought up at the meeting.

Several in attendance spoke up about the need for education, most notably the need to clean the items before they can be recycled. Glaus said if one item is contaminated in a tub, the tub has to come back.

"Some sort of recycling is long past due," said Sikeston resident Rodney McConnell. "But education is going to be key. I think people just don't know any better."

Glaus said he would make pamphlets available at city hall for those who want to learn more about the recycling available and how to properly dispose of the items.

"We are dedicated to educating the community," said Sikeston Mayor Pro-Tem Jon Gilmore.

Another issue with curbside pickup is the matter in which it is picked up. Gilmore said one thing that must be addressed is the alley pickup of trash, which can be problematic for Sonny's due to the quality and size of the alleyways, as well as the lack of maintenance.

"In my mind, the trash and litter is enormous in some of these alleys," Gilmore said.

The containers the trash and recyclables are put in was also addressed. Douglass said a lot people complain about just setting bags along the street allowing animals to get into the bags, dragging the trash throughout the neighborhood.

He said that could be addressed in the city code to specify the trash be placed in a specific type of container or to have a standard container from the vendor.

Glaus was asked what the cost of a container for a household would be, if it were put in the city code that all residents must have a container from the vendor. He estimated it would be about $65 per container but Gilmore was quick to add that the Council has not had any discussions on those costs at this time.

Douglass also discussed the frequency of pickups which is twice a week, saying "a lot of people love that it is picked up twice a week." He also told the Council they would need to decide what they wanted the length of the contract to be.

With the many issues facing the Council, it was decided that a continuation of the discussion would be placed on the agenda for their next meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 27. That would still leave time for city staff to advertise for a request for proposal and have a new contract in place by July 1.