Cost cited as reason for Jefferson City Council rejecting yard-waste removal bids
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Jefferson City residents have until Friday, March 1 to burn their yard waste after the City Council this week decided to discontinue its yard waste drop-off services.
The City Council stated in a Thursday press release that it decided not to move forward on proposals that would have provided subsidized yard waste services to residents, citing costs as a reason. The council reviewed proposals from Federal Recycling and Republic Services, but neither were deemed cost-effective.
Jefferson City Director of Planning and Protective Services Clint Smith said the city had about $60,000 in costs at its temporary yard-waste drop-off site that closed last month. The city budgeted around $195,000 for yard waste services.
Burning season for yard waste in Jefferson City occurs during daylight hours from Nov. 1-March 1, and Jefferson City Fire Division Chief Jason Turner said the most-common mistake people make when burning yard waste is burning things they shouldn't such as lumber, furniture and trash.
Turner recommends that you burn your yard waste on your own property at least 25 feet off the property line. The one thing Turner wants people to remember is that you are assuming liability because, "if it (the fire) causes damage to somebody else's property, which is what we see quite often, that a fire gets out of hand. It burns somebody's outbuilding, the side of their house."
Smith said composting could be a way for residents to utilize yard waste.
"So there is something you can do with a lot of your yard waste as far as grass clippings and leaves," Smith said. "You can composite material at your home site on your property and actually produce compost, which is beneficial for growing plants and home gardens and things like that."
On its "frequently asked questions" page, Republic Services does not allow yard waste to be accepted at the landfill. Grass clippings can be left on lawns, and leaves can be mulched during mowing, the website says.
The city on its FAQ page also said residents can contact local lawn service companies.
