FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 12, 2007
Public invited to “talk trash” about long-term solid waste management plan
The City of Kansas City, Mo., Public Works Department’s Solid Waste Division will host a series of community focus groups in October and November to gather input from city residents about the development of a long-term solid waste management plan.
Focus groups will be held:
- Oct. 17 at the Tony Aguirre Community Center, 2050 W. Pennway Terrace
- Oct. 18 at the Line Creek Community Center, 5940 N.W. Waukomis Drive
- Oct. 24 at the Marlborough Community Center, 8200 Paseo Blvd.
- Oct. 31 at the Boy Scouts of America Scout Center, 10210 Holmes Road
- Nov. 3 at the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Association, 3700 Woodland Ave.
- Nov. 5 at the Sterling Acres Baptist Church, 11200 E. 47th St.
- Nov. 6 at Old Northeast Inc., 6612 Independence Ave.
- Nov. 8 at the Kansas City North Community Center, 3930 N.E. Antioch Road
Each focus group has limited spots available. Residents interested in participating in one of the focus groups should contact Jake Potter at (816) 472-1930 or at jpotter@janemobley.com.
A project team selected by the City began work on this long-term solid waste management plan in September to identify a long-term plan to effectively manage solid waste. The team will evaluate the City’s current and future solid waste needs by examining collection, transportation and disposal of residential waste, as well as recycling contracts.
Further planning will create a timeline to establish solid waste management needs for the next 5 to 25 years for the City and the metropolitan area.
The City’s Solid Waste Division has one of the most cost-effective trash and recycling collection programs in the country, spending $18.35 million annually or about $7 less per household than the national average. However, with local landfills reaching capacity, program costs are expected to increase and some waste disposal services and programs offered by the City could be eliminated.
This is not just a Kansas City problem. It is a regional issue that needs to be remedied soon because the Greater Kansas City Area is creating trash faster than space can be found.
To learn more about the plan, the public is invited to meet the project team and share their ideas or concerns about this project.
Media inquiries should be directed to Dennis Gagnon, public information officer, Public Works Department, (816) 513-2659
