Neighboring cities feel the strain as Columbia’s recycling remains halted
Mitchell Kaminski
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
More than a month after a tornado destroyed Columbia’s recycling facility, nearby cities are grappling with an influx of recyclables.
Columbia’s recycling program has been suspended since the April storm that leveled the city’s facility, forcing the closure of curbside collection and all eight drop-off centers. Curbside pickup is still active, but all curbside recycling is being brought to the landfill. City officials say the rebuilding process could take more than a year.
“Obviously, the first week or so there were some frustrations and lots of questions of how things are supposed to be handled now and that sort of thing,” Columbia Public Utilities spokesman Jason West told ABC 17 News. “ I think over the last few weeks, people have come to understand, especially since we started at least accepting and restarted the curbside pickup for recycling, even though everything still going to the landfill, people are being understanding and patient while we’re going through all the different assessments and looking at possibilities and future options.”
Ashland temporarily shut down its drop-off center earlier this month. A social media post from the city says that the site was closed due to “ongoing misuse,” residents began dumping “excess materials” there. The site reopened this week, but will only accept drop-offs on weekdays moving forward.
Jefferson City has also reported an increase in recycling from Columbia residents. West says Jefferson City officials asked the City of Columbia to remind residents to follow the rules at Jefferson City’s recycling facility.
“They do have a glass bin that can accept glass, but recyclables shouldn’t go in black bags,” West said. “When they see a blue Columbia bag, they know there’s probably going to be contaminants in there, which messes up their process.”
West urged residents using other cities’ facilities to follow posted instructions and ensure they’re recycling properly. Both Ashland and Jefferson City have signs explaining what materials are accepted and how they should be sorted.
Columbia has hired a consultant to evaluate the city’s recycling system and plans to discuss potential solutions during Monday’s pre-council meeting.