In a split decision allowing Unity of the Carolinas to continue to provide solid waste and recycling collection, Halifax County commissioners today opted to go with bi-weekly recycling pick-up and continue to allow the company to use its safety green rollout containers.
Unity’s contract with the county is set to expire at the end of June but, according to a memo from Public Utilities Director Christopher Williams, includes the option of a two-year extension.
With Commissioner Linda Brewer voting against the measure, the board agreed to maintain the current cart color and revert to bi-weekly collections of recyclables at a cost of $2,673,276.
The new contract will go into effect July 1.
Going back to bi-weekly collections of recyclable materials comes as Williams noted there were 9,000 tons collected last year, making up 20 percent of the collections.
County Manager Dia Denton said in preparing for the notice of bi-weekly collections of recyclables the county will “have to do a good job in advertising the changes.”
Commissioner John Smith, who serves on the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Board, said that board reached a deadlock on moving forward with a recommendation.
Williams noted in his memo to commissioners that the solid waste board met on March 8 to review proposals.
Since Meridian Waste did not offer a recycling option, Williams said the solid waste board was in favor of the Unity proposal but a motion on the matter was not adopted because a 50 percent plus one margin of the votes cast was not reached.
While there was the option to change the color of the rollout containers, that proposal with bi-weekly recyclable collection would have increased the contract price to $3,013,180. A weekly collection of recyclables while maintaining the current rollout color would have cost the county $2,995,235.
In the early days of striking its first contract with Unity, many residents complained of the colors of the trash cans, which the company said are more visible and reflect its colors.
Commissioner Carolyn Johnson, who said she didn’t have a problem with the colors, made the motion to proceed with the proposal on a second by Sammy Webb. The measure passed on a 4-1 margin.
Green for Life and Republic Services declined to submit proposals based on the inability to procure equipment and hire personnel by July 1, Williams said in the memo.
