The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

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November 8, 2009

Yard waste fees back on agenda

BY JENNIFER BAILEY

DANVILLE — Not just those interested in a curbside recycling program responded to the city’s recent survey.

Of the approximately 682 respondents, 115 said they would not be willing to pay for the service.

The majority of respondents, 450-500, indicated they would be willing to pay $5 to $10 monthly for a subscription service.

Public Works Director Doug Ahrens previously said the city needs a minimum of 1,200 subscribers to make the recycling program financially feasible.

The city council’s Public Works Committee will discuss the survey results on Tuesday.

Also returning to the agenda are yard waste program fees.

Discussions about increasing the fees to better pay for the program were delayed as recycling programs were discussed. The county stopped its recycling program last month due to costs.

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said residents have other places to take plastics and other recyclables, such as WITS on Bowman Avenue.

He said the city fought and tried to help the situation. But in the end, it was a county program and the county couldn’t keep it going, he added.

The Public Works Department is recommending a bi-weekly yard waste collection program, with a few weeks of weekly collection in the spring and fall during heavy leaf and yard waste collection periods.

If aldermen want weekly pick-ups to continue, the yard waste sticker would increase to $30 per toter instead of $20.

Weekly pickups would cause more of an overtime and scheduling issue, such as garbage and yard waste sometimes not being collected the same day at some households, Ahrens and Eisenhauer said.

Ahrens said the department can’t do some weekly and other bi-weekly household pickups. It will have to be one or the other citywide.

About 48 percent of the total annual program cost of about $252,000 would be program driven. The $134,290 balance would be covered by the current monthly garbage fee (about $1 per month per customer).

Ahrens said residents now pay more than $1.50 a month out of their garbage fee for the program.

Annual yard waste toter stickers would increase from $10 to $20, and the city would get out of selling yard waste bags.

Bags would only be allowed during the spring and fall heavy collection weeks.

Mulch and compost costs would increase from $10 to $25 per cubic yard.

The new program and fees would become effective next year.

Also Tuesday, the public works committee will continue tax levy discussions and consider approving 2010 Harrison Park Golf Course fee increases.

COMING UP

The city council’s Public Works Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, 17 W. Main St.

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