CLOSING OF JACKSON LANDFILL PUTS PINCH ON CAPE TRANSFER STATION

When the Jackson landfill closed in April, the Cape Girardeau solid-waste transfer station saw a dramatic increase in trash.

The extra load reached record tonnage recently, giving Cape Girardeau city officials reason to be concerned.

"We had 170 tons on a Monday two weeks ago, which is about 70 tons more than we're used to," said Assistant City Attorney Doug Leslie. "What we're seeing is small trash-haulers in the county using our transfer station because of the Jackson landfill being closed. It's definitely something to look into."

The Cape Girardeau City Council will learn how serious a situation the extra solid-waste dumping is when a report is given at the next meeting Sept. 6.

"I'm putting together the numbers and should have something by Thursday or at the end of the week," said Environmental Services Coordinator Mary Ellen Klein.

"The transfer station has a new compactor, which was built to handle 100 tons a day," said Klein. "There is still the same amount of equipment and men to do the work that goes through the station. The men and equipment have to work that much harder to handle the extra load. We don't know how much longer we can keep that up."