OFFICIAL EXPLAINS UPCOMING CURBSIDE RECYCLING PLAN

"The new residential curbside recycling program will not be mandatory. The program will not result in a rate increase. Trucks will still be running two days a week in each area."

These answers by Doug Kaminskey, environmental services coordinator for Cape Girardeau, are in response to questions that flooded the city's public works office Thursday afternoon in response to a circular, which has been mailed to residents to explain the new curbside pickup program that starts Oct. 1.

"We had hoped the circulars would fully explain what we'll be doing next month," said Kaminskey. "But apparently we have confused some people; our telephones have been ringing consistently."

Kaminskey said he wanted to stress that the program was not mandatory.

"The city's residents are being asked to cooperate with the curbside pickup recycling program," he said. "We're hoping for good participation; we'd like to see participation at the 35 to 40 percent level."

The city has been recycling materials at a recycling center at 120 N. Broadview, the former Stovall Block Co., property, for the past two to three months.

Kaminskey said many questions were being asked about the pickup, especially the fact that solid wastes trash and garbage would be picked up only once a week.

He explained the pickup plans: "Pickup days will basically remain the same as they are now. One small area was changed, but a map has been sent to all residents explaining what days and what pickups will be made."

Trash and garbage solid wastes will be picked up on one of the two days, with each resident permitted three containers.

"On the second day of the pickup, we'll use a special truck designed with compartments for recyclable materials," said Kaminskey.

The recyclables must be placed and separated in brown paper grocery bags or plastic bags and placed in a container that allows for separation, access and content identification.

"Glass and plastic bottles should be rinsed and have no lids or caps," said Kaminskey.

Kaminskey explained that no trash would be picked up on that second day.

Slick magazines or mixed paper, tin cans, and cereal boxes have to be treated as trash at the present time.

"Later, if we can find a recyclable market for these items, we can change the policy," said Kaminskey. "Right now we have markets for only the five items on the recyclable list."

The city's efforts are part of a program designed to comply with the new solid-waste laws, which call for solid wastes to be reduced by 40 percent in landfills by 1998.

"The household waste program is only a small portion of that 40 percent," said Kaminskey. "But it all helps in reducing the landfill load. Cape is like other cities struggling to comply with the regulations. It's a difficult task but the public has been educated on waste problems and will be a big help in our efforts. We're getting an early start, and I think we can do it."

Kaminskey said that with 35 to 40 percent participation by residents, the program could cut the landfill load by as much as 6 to 10 percent.

Tires, batteries, appliances and waste oil were banned from landfills in January in accordance with the new Missouri law.

State regulations call for grass, leaves and brush to be banned from landfills by January of 1992, and in 1994, hazardous wastes from households aerosol and hair spray cans will be banned.

"We'll continue to pick up leaves as in the past," said Kaminskey, "but they can pose a problem. We'll have to compost them before placing them in the landfill."