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City reviews commercial recycling options; temporary funding would cost about $20,000 a month
Summary
Hopkinsville staff and board representatives offered two approaches to maintain commercial recycling: have businesses pay at trash rates or have the city temporarily fund pickups until a contractor is procured—estimated at about $20,000 per month through Dec. 31 to avoid gaps.
City officials and recycling program representatives presented two options to address a gap in Hopkinsville’s commercial recycling service.
Wendell Lynch introduced the item and Brian Silver outlined the options: Option A would convert commercial recycling pickup to standard trash collection rates, shifting cost to participating businesses; Option B would have the city temporarily pay for pickups (estimated at about $20,000 per month) and run services until a contractor can be procured, with an anticipated turn‑over to a contractor by Dec. 31. Presenters said roughly 159 businesses participate in the program with an additional 24 in the industrial park.
Council questions focused on who pays under Option A, the number of participating businesses, and the fiscal implications of Option B. Lynch and Silver said Option A would have businesses bear the cost under standard solid‑waste rates; under Option B the city would pay roughly $60,000–$75,000 over a three‑month interim to prevent service interruption for small commercial accounts and industrial park participants that maintain zero‑waste policies.
Council did not take immediate action; the presentation was accepted as a report and the city will continue discussions on whether to temporarily subsidize service or transition to the business‑paid model.
