New contract with Republic Services lowers trash bill, drops recycling

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather
STC Meeting_020.jpg

Sheriff Paul Babeu attended the Superior Town Council meeting to present a check for $10,000 in RICO funds to the Town of Superior for swimming pool repairs. Babeu also explained that he had RICO funds to deliver to the Superior Little League and the SHS Robotics Club that will be presented at a later date.

By Chase Kamp

Superior Sun

The Superior council voted on a new trash services agreement with Republic Services at its regular meeting on Apr. 4 that scraps weekly curb-side recycling service in favor of twice-weekly trash pickup. Proponents of the recycling program were dismayed, though councilmembers said the effort was not working and that the new contract will result in trash bills about $8 lower every month.

Town manager K. Kane Graves said Republic Services would be taking over billing for trash services, trash pickup would be returning to twice a week and there will no longer be curbside recycling.

The agreement passed 4 – 3 with Mayor Jayme Valenzuela and councilmembers John Tameron and Irene Hansen voting nay.

Councilmember Chris Tomerlin said he was advised by town leadership that the deal with Republic was a good one. “Talking to different people, it was an outstanding deal that we got,” he said. “I believe we got the best deal available for the town. It would have been nice if recycling paid for itself, but it’s unfortunate that it didn’t happen.”

Explaining his nay vote, Tameron said he was unable to read the contract and elected not to vote in favor of it.

The town gave Republic Services an exclusive negotiation period to pitch a new contract, Tomerlin explained.

He said he supported the recycling program, but after two years, it was not paying for itself. “The residents that weren’t utilizing recycling were still using it as second trash bin,” he said. “It got to the point where our recycling got taken to the landfill anyway.”

Sue Anderson with the Superior Chamber of Commerce, who helped push the program when it first began, said she received little indication from the town that there was a problem.

Superior used to have large roll-off bins for recycling placed around the town, she explained. Based on that success, Allied Waste furnished the curb-side barrels and began pick-up.

“Many hours over several years were spent putting a recycling program together and it’s suddenly gone with very little explanation,” Anderson said.

Tameron said Republic Waste drivers would get out of truck and check recycling, he said, wasting a lot of time checking many of the cans. “There was too much garbage for once a week pickup, so people put it in the recycling and contaminating it,” he said.

“I’m big on recycling and I’m going to work on something with the Town Manager and Republic to get some kind of recycling program,” he said.

Tomerlin also hoped to re-implement recycling at some point. “Maybe we can go back to having the bins around town so that those residents who want to participate can do so,” he said.

xSTC Meeting_010.jpg

The SHS Robotics Team also presented their robot and provided a demonstration for the Superior Town Council.


xSTC Meeting_016.jpg

Pinal County has provided Superior with a new prescription drug disposal box.


xSTC Meeting_005.jpg

Linda Weinberg from Cenpatico Behavioral Health presented a check to the Superior Substance Abuse Coalition (SSAC) for $16,000. The SSAC received a grant to from Cenpatico to fund the annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration and the Win to Swim program. The Town of Superior will be fiscal agent for the funding.

admin (8132 Posts)


Facebooktwitterby feather
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Comments are closed.

  • Additional Stories

    Valentine’s month ‘Hearts Rock’ photography at the Arboretum

    February 5th, 2014
    by

    February is a special month for lovers, including lovers of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA). In celebration of this special […]


    Batter up for the 2014 Little League season

    February 5th, 2014
    by

    The Superior Little League Board of directors are gearing up for another community tradition and that is Little League Baseball/Softball. […]


    Need a ride? New service available in Superior

    February 5th, 2014
    by

    Superior – There is a new business in the town of Superior, and it is taking everyone, including the Superior […]


    Superior Police Report

    February 5th, 2014
    by

    According to state law, police may arrest suspected offenders by two methods. The suspect may be physically taken into the […]


  • Additional Stories

    Pastor’s Corner: Training to be a Godly person

    February 5th, 2014
    by

    By Rev. Dennis Van Gorp Family Life Christian Center In 1 Timothy 4:7 & 8 we read, “Train  yourself to […]


    Longoria records double-double in win versus Hayden

    February 5th, 2014
    by

    By Andrew Luberda Superior Sun Junior Ricky Longoria recorded a double-double (22 points and 10 rebounds) as the Panthers earned […]


    Romero, Navarrette lead Lady Panthers in win

    February 5th, 2014
    by

    By Andrew Luberda Superior Sun Player of the Game Cierra Navarrette recorded a double-double (10 points and 10 assists) and […]


    Candidate raises questions about hiring process

    February 5th, 2014
    by

    My name is Lori Ketron and I have been a resident of Superior since July of 2013. I retired from […]


  • Copperarea

  • Southeast Valley Ledger