Iola city crews will assist, on an interim basis, a cardboard recycling effort spearheaded by local Rotarians.
City Council members agreed Monday to a 90-day trial period, in which city crews will transport cardboard from a pair of dumpsters in town to the Rotarys recycling trailers on North State Street.
The plan is to empty each of the dumpsters once a week, as long as trash collection crews have enough time, Council members agreed.
Rotarian Steve Strickler explained the genesis of the program. Through the county, Rotary acquired a pair of 8-cubic-yard dumpsters the biggest ones we could find that we could dump with trash trucks, he said and gave local businesses keys to allow them to take their excess cardboard.
Rotary also recently acquired a cardboard bailer to further facilitate the recycling effort.
Were trying to run this with volunteers, Strickler said of the countywide effort. Strickler noted the investment some communities have put toward recycling in terms of equipment, has not paid off.
Ive seen many towns buy expensive dumpsters and trucks and found out its not worth it, he said.
The citys primary concern, City Administrator Sid Fleming said, centers on the size of the dumpsters. At 8 cubic yards, they are too large for all but Iolas oldest trash truck to lift.
The old truck, which is used as a backup for trash collection, has a cable and winch system to lift the large dumpsters.
Fleming anticipated the cost for the city at about $100 a week.
Street and Alley Superintendent Dan Leslie said his concerns were centered on how to schedule time for collecting the cardboard within the framework of Iolas regular trash service.
Councilman Carl Slaugh wondered if the city utilized smaller dumpsters. The two Rotary dumpsters are situated at Jump Start Travel Center and Endurance Lift Solutions.
Perhaps, Strickler responded, but the county and Rotary have already invested in the larger ones.
It was Slaughs idea for a trial period, to get some feedback, and move on from there.
Councilman Steve French agreed with Slaughs proposal.
French praised the Rotarians for their efforts.
