海角破解版

Cleveland City Council members expressed frustration with the city鈥檚 waste collection program Tuesday in a committee meeting meant to provide a third-party consultant with council鈥檚 input on trash pickup and recycling.

The city brought in GT Environmental last year to evaluate the state of Cleveland鈥檚 recycling and trash pickup programs, after the city failed to secure a new recycling contract in April, resulting in all recycling being sent to landfills.

Council members asked for more transparency as the city moves forward with evaluating and updating its recycling program.

An initial report covering the strengths and weaknesses of the program will be available to council and the public soon, said Cleveland Chief Operating Officer Darnell Brown, and will include specific recommendations for how to improve waste collection.

From there, Brown said, the city will need to consider its options before moving forward.

鈥淭here鈥檚 also a lot of implications that鈥檒l come with any decision you make, whether that鈥檚 process or cost or equipment or personnel,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淪o there鈥檚 a lot of work that happens after you get information.鈥�

As the city considers the needs of its residents, education and communication must be considered, said Councilmember Kerry McCormack. Clevelanders will need more information on pickup schedules, what gets recycled and how to get new receptacles if needed, he said.

鈥淲hen we really deliberate on how we鈥檙e going to bring recycling back to the City of Cleveland, it will be in vain unless we have a strong, inclusive, comprehensive communications and educations plan for the community,鈥� McCormack said.

Trash collection analysis will be included in the final report, and Tuesday's meeting also included a discussion of its shortcomings. Multiple council members expressed concern over the infrequency of bulk pickup, which occurs once a month.

The lack of bulk pickup is leading to a spike in illegal dumping around Councilman Joe Jones鈥� Ward 1, on the southeast side, particularly with old mattresses.

鈥淲e have to resolve this crisis, with mattresses on main roads, our streets and our curbs,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淲e have to do something to change the situation. If not, we鈥檒l see more of the same.鈥�

The city lacks the resources to handle the current amount of waste, said GT Environmental consultant Jim Skora, particularly when it comes to trucks. Cleveland has about 70 collection routes, he said, and the general recommendation is to have 20 percent more trucks than routes. But currently, Cleveland has between 65 and 72 trucks available, Sorka said.

鈥淚n order to have an effective collection program, you need to have availability of trucks,鈥� Skora said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of some of the problems we saw in our due diligence, is available of trucks and/or staff, to service the routes on a daily basis by ward.鈥�

The report evaluating waste collection in Cleveland was initially expected in December. It will be released after council members鈥� comments have been included, Skora said.