Jackson aldermen to mull limit on trash collection

JACKSON, Mo. -- Tonight the Jackson Board of Aldermen will consider changing the city's current policy of providing unlimited trash collection. The proposal would restrict each household to three 33-gallon bags per week and would prohibit the use of plastic, metal, rubber or fiberglass garbage containers.

The proposal would continue the city's policy of free trash collection, but households putting out more than three bags would have to buy a sticker at $1 per bag. A city survey conducted in September found that 91 percent of Jackson households put out three bags or less per week.

The plan is an attempt to control the city's rising trash collection costs. The amount the city pays in transfer station tipping fees is now running $150,000 per year.

"That's a fee we're trying to get a control on by setting bag limits and through recycling," says city administrator Jim Roach.

The city wants to do away with picking up trash placed in containers as a way of streamlining its trash collection methods. Roach says workers can pick up bagged garbage faster because fewer trips to the curb are required. Fewer trips also should improve safety, he said.

The city will continue collecting yard waste for free, but only every other week instead of weekly. Residents still would be able to dispose of yard waste without restrictions by taking it to the city recycling center. No bag limit on yard waste is proposed.

Funded by sales tax

The proposals come after a yearlong study of the city's solid waste collection program. Surveys were sent to all residential users of the city's trash collection program, which is funded by a 1 cent sales tax passed by Jackson residents in 1974.

The city is still using the same proportion of the revenue generated by the sales tax to fund its trash collection system. The original tax also was passed to develop the city parks system and make other capital improvements. At that time, the city had its own landfill and did not have to pay tipping fees.

In the survey, the city had proposed charging $10 per month to collect two 33-gallon bags and an additional $2 per month for curbside recycling.

Roach said the majority of city residents opposed any fees for trash collection. The majority of respondents said the city should seek tax increases if more revenue is needed to cover tax collection costs.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182