CAPE TO RESUME ITS OWN RECYCLING

A soft recycling market is forcing Cape Girardeau to reopen its long-dormant waste processing facility and drop BFI.

The recycling center behind the Department of Public Works building closed a year ago when the city contracted with Browning-Ferris Industries to handle residents' recyclable items. The agreement said BFI would process the items for $45 ton.

BFI officials called Public Works director Doug Leslie Friday to say the market softened and the new price is $160 a ton, effective June 1.

At Monday night's Cape Girardeau City Council study session and meeting, Leslie said the city couldn't tolerate the price increase. He asked councilmen to table an ordinance changing the waste collection policy.

The proposed ordinance, slated for implementation July 1, wouldn't change the existing base rate for trash collection, which is $12.13 a month for each household. However, citizens would be allowed only two containers a week for that amount instead of the current three.

Stickers costing $1 each would be available for any additional bags or containers. Containers still would be limited to 35-gallon capacity and 75 pounds.

Leslie said he expected more citizens to recycle under the new plan. To offset the lowered container limit, the city may accept more recyclables, including mixed paper. That would include anything from junk mail to cereal boxes and take a lot out of the waste stream.

"We hope to add even more down the road," Leslie said. "But there will be some who just ultimately have to buy the additional stickers. At least they have options."

But reopening the city's recycling center may change the monthly fee quoted in the solid-waste proposal.

On Monday, Councilman Melvin Gateley initially opposed tabling solid-waste ordinance discussion.

"The storm we had on solid waste finally settled down and people got on board with the changes," he said. "If we try to implement this by July 1 without some good, solid education, we are asking for trouble."

Leslie contended that ending the city's contract with BFI may not mean a rate increase.

"Then it will be the first time we have taken an additional responsibility without a rate increase," Gateley said.

Leslie said he would present a report to the council May 20, outlining the city's options.

The public works department retained much of the recycling center equipment even after the facility closed. People serving alternative sentences for crime will be available for labor, as they were before.

Still, Leslie said he isn't sure how much it will cost to get the center running. It costs a lot to process 2.5 million tons of recyclable products each year.

"Our only hope is that the program would break even," he said. "The material we recycle will only cover a small portion of running the city's solid-waste program."

TRASH FEES

Extra bags may cost extra bucks for Cape Girardeau trash customers.

Residents currently pay $12.13 per month for trash pickup, which covers three bags or three 32-gallon containers. Additional bags are available at the Public Works Department for $2 each.

Under a new system proposed for Cape Girardeau, residents would be allowed only two trash bags or containers for the $12.13 monthly fee. Stickers for additional containers would be available at the Department of Public Works and various businesses for $1 each.