by Mike Knaak
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Managers for Republic Services presented St. Joseph City Council members with options for improving the twice-yearly refuse pickups after some residents created larger-than- expected piles of trash last week.
Jon Snyder, general manager for Republic Services, said his crews collected 77 tons of refuse during pickups on May 17 and 18.
“That’s a staggering amount for the size of the city,” he said at the May 21 council meeting.
The volume translates to hundreds of pounds per home.
Some of the excess refuse may be coming from people who live outside the city.
The council took no action but council members, city staff and Republic managers will continue to discuss options before the fall pickup.
Snyder suggested instead of having curbside pickup, to have a central location where residents could bring their refuse for collection. At the collection point, workers could verify the people bringing items were actually city residents.
Council members were worried the central collection method would take away some of the convenience of the curbside pickup, especially for residents who don’t have a vehicle to haul refuse to the collection site.
Adding electronics and appliance recycling to a central collection site method was also discussed.
This photo was one of several submitted to the St. Joseph City Council to illustrate problems with the May 17 and 18 refuse pickup.
This photo was one of several submitted to the St. Joseph City Council to illustrate problems with the May 17 and 18 refuse pickup.
