City Council Meeting and the Garbage Problem

January 19, 2010: City Council meeting and the room is standing room only--about half are here for the Allied Waste/Jefferson City issue and the other half for the clean air report.

Rich Graham of Allied Waste: "We have recycled 572 tons. This averages to 8.3 pounds per household per week and about 36 pounds per month."

I had to do the math. 8.3 X 4 equals 33.2 pounds--but I guess since months are longer than 28 days (except for February), maybe that's where the extra weight came from.

"Of the 1665 pounds of solid waste, 472 pounds are recyclable."

Notice how the numbers have changed.

"Thirty-seven percent of the trash is recycled. We have the highest percent of recycled trash."

During the question and answer period, he explained how the volume of calls were greater at the beginning of the program, but that is down now. Furthermore, the phone company has given the company more capacity and Allied Waste has hired another individual to man the phones.

Klimpt asked about the billing. "Maybe between 100 and 500 are not paying," Graham answered, "but I'll have a good number later this week." (According to this blogger, the number is more like 1400.)

"we still have 200 large containers left. Between 200 and 300. We'll be finished by the end of February."

Ferguson asked about residents getting bigger containers. "Residents can request 95 gallon barrels for $1.95 a month extra," Graham explained.

Mr. Tolson testified that the program was not well thought out. He did not like being considered the "current resident." His main problem is how the cans are left out on the street the entire time.

Ms. Symes said that the garbage issue is a "horrible misunderstanding." The part about it being mandatory caused her the most trouble. She complained about Allied Waste using the landfill, but the mayor explained that the city never owned the landfill and that Allied Waste had purchased it from private individuals.

She felt Jefferson City citizens were not offered a choice and the "once a week pick-up is an inconvenience for most people."

Mr. Parnell stated that we should have a choice if we want to recycle. He stated that he is threatened by the city placing a lien on his house if he doesn't comply with the ordinance.

Mr. Stellar was the only one to testify in favor of the program: "I like the system. That doesn't mean it's perfect. but we're a community and communities share costs."

He offered a few examples. "I pay the school tax even though I have never had a child in Jeff City public schools and even though I do not ride a bike, I still contribute to the greenways."

Mr. Farr complained that other communities are using the Jeff City landfill. "One of the reasons I supported the program was to give the landfill a longer life. With other Allied Waste communities like Fulton using our landfill, it has a shorter lifespan."
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Mr. Steinman claimed the landfill the city owns needs to be cleaned up. "The rats are so big it's not even target practice."

"Allied Waste raised the price of the landfill. Now a three ton load is the same price as a half ton load."

He stated he would not contribute anymore money to the Samaritan Center if they accepted the city's money to pay for those who cannot afford the additional cost of garbage pick-up.

Ms. Robben explained how her family of seven needed more capacity. She was proud of the way her neighborhood looked, but now she is embarrassed because of the garbage bags that do not fit in her can and have to be placed next to it.

Ninety percent of her trash at her business is glass, but Allied Waste does not recycle glass. In order to solve her garbage problem, she is paying double for double the pick-up.

Ms. Mason explained how the garbage issue is embarrassing her. "Over the Christmas holidays, I took my guest on a tour of the Christmas lights and I was embarrassed by all of the garbage everywhere.

"The drivers do not get out of the truck and they miss their bins. I'm embarrassed to see trash everywhere."

She concluded with: "Is Allied Waste green for the people or for their pockets?"

Scrivner asked her about the garbage and she told him, "If the lid closes, there is not too much garbage. They spill out the contents and do not pick it up. Garbage is everywhere. I have pictures on my phone."

I left out two of the individuals who testified because I have their written testimony and I will present it in a later blog.