Changes coming to trash and recycling in Sedalia, Missouri

The Sedalia (Missouri) Democrat reports the Sedalia City Council has approved changes to its trash and recycling programs.

Scheduled for October 2016, the city will institute a curbside recycling service. In addition, Sedalia will reduce trash pickup to once per week and will increase the monthly fee by $2. These changes are designed to offset costs for the Sanitation Department, which exceed revenue by more than $250,000, with no equipment replacement funds, the article says.

“A trash truck costs roughly $195,000 to $200,000,” Public Works Director Brenda Ardrey told the Democrat. “Our existing trucks, because we’re keeping them for 16 years, are costing between $20,000 and $25,000 at trade-in. $2 sounds like a lot to all of us on a fee increase per month. That’s $24 a year. You multiply that by about 7,100 households in towns, and what you find out is it will take us 18 months to capture enough in the fleet and vehicle fund to replace a single truck.” 

Ardrey adds that an equipment replacement fund would be beneficial for Sanitation and for the general fund, as well as for other public works departments. 

Residents have expressed concerns about the potential changes on social media and have asked why Sedalia does not contract with private hauling companies. On average, Missouri haulers charge $15.50 per month for weekly pickup services. This would cost citizens $13 per month, the article says.