Fayetteville, Ark., City Council Considers Contract with R. W. Beck

The City Council of Fayetteville, Ark., will meet Tuesday, April 15, to consider approving a contract with R. W. Beck to study residential and commercial recycling services and options for a construction and demolition recycling program in the city, according to a report in the Northwest Arkansas Times.

The city approved $100,000 in its 2007 Solid Waste and Recycling Budget to fund such a study. Following a request for proposals, R. W. Beck was selected to conduct the study. The scope of work submitted by R. W. Beck exceeds the budgeted amount by nearly $11,000, and the city will consider taking the extra amount from its building and grounds maintenance budget, according to the report.

According to Brian Pugh, Fayetteville’s waste reduction coordinator, the study will look at the potential to mandate apartment complexes to participate in the residential recycling program as well as options for commercial recycling.

The study will examine the city’s current drop-off recycling program to determine participation rates as well as develop a cost model for an on-site apartment recycling program.

Additionally, the study will look at the costs of expanding the commercial recycling program, including staffing, collection vehicles and containers, the Northwest Arkansas Times reports. Targeted materials and the costs associated with processing these items will also be analyzed.

Pugh tells the paper the study will also look for improvements that could help to lower program costs and increase recycling tonnages.

“Part of the reason for doing the study is to look at ways to process materials differently and reduce the number of trucks—things that will help us in the long run,” he tells the paper.