City to provide must-use garbage cans for residents

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 27, 2002

[08/27/02]Vicksburg homes will be getting city-supplied garbage containers in a plan by officials to help fight litter.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Monday to purchase 10,000 wheeled, 96-gallon containers for about $380,000. The new, heavy plastic containers will be distributed around Nov. 1 with no separate charge to customers of the city’s garbage contractor.

Mayor Laurence Leyens said the larger containers with hinged lids already in use by companies serving Warren County homes outside Vicksburg should prevent waste from blowing up and down streets and help keep animals from ripping open plastic bags.

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“On garbage day the town gets filthy along the garbage routes,” Leyens said.

Along with the change, haulers will no longer pick up garbage not in the designated containers. If destroyed, a replacement will cost about $38. Households with larger quantities of garbage will also be able to purchase a second container for about half price.

Containers have been part of Vicksburg’s waste collection procedures in the past, but not on such a large scale. Single-family residences are now billed $11.05 per month for twice-weekly pickups, but Leyens said he thinks that cost will rise to about $13 due to the containers and other factors. Apartment complexes and commercial locations are required to contract separately for dumping bins.

Officials are reviewing proposals for solid waste collection and rubbish collection inside the municipal limits. Waste Management of Mississippi Inc., currently holds the city contract for curbside collection which expires Oct. 31.

Rubbish, which includes tree limbs and grass cuttings, is currently collected by city crews, but plans are to combine the collection of household garbage and rubbish into one route, allowing residents to put both out at the same time.

“We’re looking toward a much-improved outcome when it comes to garbage collection with a minimum financial outcome,” Leyens said.

The city now pays about $1 million and has 30 employees in rubbish collection. The employees may be placed in other city jobs, Leyens said.

In other matters the board:

Received sealed bids for landscape supplies.

Executed a grant agreement for enforcing underage drinking laws.

Added four names to the employee driving list.

Approved the purchase of carpet and installation at the former Ellis building. The cost will be $11,788.

Announced that TV 23 will also begin broadcasting through the city’s Website at www.vicksburg.org.

Presented a proclamation declaring September Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Approved the claims docket.

The city board will meet again at 10 a.m. Sept. 3 at City Hall Annex.