Fulton residents to see no changes in trash service

The Fulton landfill may stop accepting trash on April 29, but it will be business as usual for municipal trash customers starting May 2. The destination for their solid waste will change, but despite concerns, everything else - pickup days, rates, etc. - will remain the same.

"There seems to be some confusion about what's going to happen when the landfill closes," Director of Administration Bill Johnson said. "We've gotten a number of phone calls asking when is Allied going to take over and when are they going to change pickup days."

In response to those questions, and numerous queries regarding rates, recycling and other trash-related concerns, Solid Waste Manager J. C. Miller said, "I'd like residents to know there are likely not going to be any changes in their service."

"It's still going to be the same guys, in the same trucks on the same days (coming to pick up trash)," Johnson agreed. "They're just going to be trucking it 30 miles south to the landfill in Jefferson City instead of to our landfill."

Recycling and yard waste also will continue to be picked up curbside according to the current schedule, and Miller said the city still will do special pickups at customer request.

Johnson said solid waste collection rates should remain the same as well, noting, "when we did all our projections, we penciled out that the rates we have today would be adequate." The only reason that would potentially change, he said, would be if gas prices continue to go up.

"We didn't budget for $4-a-gallon diesel," Johnson said. "We need to get rolling down to Jefferson City to see what happens - the impact may be small."

He said the one thing that eventually will be impacted by the closing of Fulton's landfill will be residents' ability to drop off yard waste at the existent site adjacent to - and accessible through - the landfill. Johnson said the city is looking into options for alternative locations.

With the landfill set to stop accepting trash on the 29th, the city has decided - at the request of newly-elected Mayor LeRoy Benton - to extend its annual Spring Cleanup until that date. Fulton residents still can place large items such as sofas, televisions and microwaves at the curb on their regularly scheduled trash collection day. Anyone needing to dispose of bulky items after the end of April must request a special pickup, which is $14 plus extra charges if it takes longer than 5 minutes to pick up the items.

Anyone with questions should contact the Solid Waste Department at (573) 642-3421.