Mayor casts decisive vote in favor of recycling ordinance

QUINCY — Mayor Mike Troup voted Monday night to move the city’s recycling efforts toward free public collection sites and away from the $5 monthly fee for curbside pickup.

City Council tied 7-7, with Alderman Greg Fletcher, R-1; Eric Entrup, R-1; Jeff Bergman, R-2; Mike Rein, R-5; John Mast, R-5; Richie Reis, D-6; and Jack Holtschlag, D-7, voting for

The dissenters were Alderman Dave Bauer, D-2; Kelly Mays, R-3; Parker Freiburg, R-3; Mike Farha, R-4; Tony Sassen, R-4; Patty Maples, D-6; and Ben Uzelac, D-7.

“I knew the vote was going to be close,” Troup said afterwards, “just from the public comments at last week’s (council) meeting and forum (last Wednesday). I know several aldermen had questions.(administrative services manager) Jeff Mays and (municipal engineer) Jeffrey Conte did a good job going through all the issues and trying to answer questions.

“It was unclear (before the meeting) how the voting was going to go, but I knew it would be close.”

Ahead of the vote, Mays and Conte reiterated the city’s concern about the increased costs of maintaining a three-truck fleet versus a drop in the number of households participating in the program, as well as a decrease in volume. recyclable materials collected – 50% less than 10 years ago.

“It’s a shadow of what it once was,” Mays said.

“I believe this (the free collection sites) is a way to kick-start and bring (recycling) back into the psyche of this community,” Mays said. “I believe this is a step in the right direction.”

The proposed collection sites, which have not yet been specifically identified, are at the general locations of North 12th Street, South 12th Street and Broadway, West of 36th. Drop-off times would be sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, for paper and cardboard, plastic, aluminum and tin and glass mixes.

“We’re giving everyone in the town of Quincy the opportunity to drop off their recycling. I really believe a lot of people who aren’t recycling now (because of the $5 monthly fee) will recycle,” Bergman said. “The proof will be in the pudding, and at the end of the day we will have numbers to base our decision on.

“When it comes to the financial aspect, we’re giving everyone in the city an opportunity instead of having to sign up for $5 a month. (Deposit sites) are an inconvenience for some people, and I apologize for that.”

Troup said a private carrier would likely come forward to offer curbside recycling for a monthly fee yet to be determined.

Conte said the tentative start date for the new program is March 1, 2023.

Mayor casts decisive vote in favor of recycling ordinance | New