July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Recycling options considered (03/02/07)
Portland Board of Works
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
A local board will weigh its options after learning that the cost to collect recycling in the city has increased by $50,000 per year.
A city official announced Thursday that because of a substantial cost increase proposed by the company currently providing recycling services, different options - such as eliminating collection at residences - are being considered.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said after Thursday's Portland Board of Works meeting that the board will open bids for recycling services on March 15.
Waste Management has been collecting recycling at a cost of $86,400 per year. The cost increase would raise the price about $50,000, Hosier said. The company has picked up recycling in the city since 1999.
The last time the city opened bids for recycling collection was in 1998, when Waste Management's bid was selected. Linda Kennedy, the city's clerk-treasurer, said this morning that the company has not increased its fees since then, and the contract has been renewed each year.
She said city officials have requested bids because of the cost increase.
Board members also will consider setting up several permanent drop-off recycling collection sites as an alternative.
"The cost increase, we believe, is unmerited," Hosier said. "From a business standpoint, we need to take a serious look at our options."
Portland residents currently pay $3 per month for this service as part of their water/sewer bills. The rate hike would require residents to pay $1.75 more per month, he said.
The contract with Waste Management is to collect recycling from 2,400 households, Kennedy said. The company was paid $7,200 per month, which was mostly made up of the fees collected by local residents.
Hosier said he thought it was unfair to make that big of a jump for recycling collection services.
The city was notified of the proposed hike at the beginning of February, Hosier said. The city's contract with Waste Management currently is up for renewal.
Also Thursday, a request by a Portland resident to have the sewer portion of his water bill adjusted was postponed at his request.
Anthony Bright, 220 W. McNeal St., made the request because of a water leak. He did not attend the meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
A city official announced Thursday that because of a substantial cost increase proposed by the company currently providing recycling services, different options - such as eliminating collection at residences - are being considered.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said after Thursday's Portland Board of Works meeting that the board will open bids for recycling services on March 15.
Waste Management has been collecting recycling at a cost of $86,400 per year. The cost increase would raise the price about $50,000, Hosier said. The company has picked up recycling in the city since 1999.
The last time the city opened bids for recycling collection was in 1998, when Waste Management's bid was selected. Linda Kennedy, the city's clerk-treasurer, said this morning that the company has not increased its fees since then, and the contract has been renewed each year.
She said city officials have requested bids because of the cost increase.
Board members also will consider setting up several permanent drop-off recycling collection sites as an alternative.
"The cost increase, we believe, is unmerited," Hosier said. "From a business standpoint, we need to take a serious look at our options."
Portland residents currently pay $3 per month for this service as part of their water/sewer bills. The rate hike would require residents to pay $1.75 more per month, he said.
The contract with Waste Management is to collect recycling from 2,400 households, Kennedy said. The company was paid $7,200 per month, which was mostly made up of the fees collected by local residents.
Hosier said he thought it was unfair to make that big of a jump for recycling collection services.
The city was notified of the proposed hike at the beginning of February, Hosier said. The city's contract with Waste Management currently is up for renewal.
Also Thursday, a request by a Portland resident to have the sewer portion of his water bill adjusted was postponed at his request.
Anthony Bright, 220 W. McNeal St., made the request because of a water leak. He did not attend the meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
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