Media availability with Steve Hunt, Solid Waste manager

(COLUMBIA, MO) - Steve Hunt, the manager of the City of Columbia's Solid Waste Utility, and David Sorrell, the Utilities Director, will be available for questions from the media at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 7 in the City Council Chambers at 701 East Broadway.

Mr. Hunt and Mr. Sorrell will be available to discuss the upcoming changes in curbside refuse collection.

In accordance with new guidelines approved by the City Council in September, the City's Solid Waste Utility will require that all bags placed curbside for residential trash collection needs to be in a City-issued bag with the City logo. The new regulations go into effect Feb. 1. Residents will receive vouchers for 104 trash bags each year with extra bags available for purchase, if needed.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, the City will set up a contactless drive-through event to allow residents the opportunity to redeem their vouchers without going into a store. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday Jan. 19 through  Friday Jan. 22 and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 23.

The vouchers for residential customers are scheduled to be mailed Monday, Jan. 11. 

Bags will also be available at Gerbes, Hy-Vee, Menards, Moser's, Schnucks and City Hall.

The City of Columbia’s model was implemented in order to improve working conditions for City staff by reducing the potential for large volumes of refuse and large bulky items being placed at the curb for collection.

Location: 701 East Broadway