The city of Gillett has decided to drop its recycling partnership with Oconto County and the town of Gillett. The move will take effect Jan. 1, when the city’s agreement with Great American Disposal begins.
The Gillett City Council in June decided to contract with GAD for garbage and recyclable collection because of the cost of the service (the city spent $56,000 in 2013) and the age of the garbage truck. The city’s 15-year-old truck is past its life expectancy.
On Thursday, the City Council agreed not to re-sign with Oconto County and instead become its own agent for recycling. Until GAD takes over in January, city employees will drive to Oconto to pick up the recycling truck and use it for the city routes, then return the truck.
The council also agreed to run the city/town recycling facility on its own after Jan. 1.
“We talked about the pros and cons of working with the town,” said Alderperson Terry Nelson, chair of the board of public works committee.
With GAD, the city will switch to single-stream recycling, in which recyclables are mingled, which was one reason the committee recommended ending the partnership with the town.
“Everything on their end would have to be sorted, whereas our refuse can go in one bin,” Nelson said.
He said the city made its decision now, to give the town time to make a plan for 2016 and beyond. The county’s solid waste committee is scheduled to meet with area municipalities Thursday at the Gillett Town Hall to discuss their intergovernmental agreements.
Following the city’s decision, Town Supervisor Marilyn Reichwald said, “We’re going to review all options and see what’s an economical way to take care of the recycling.”
The recycling center, located at 310 W. Park St. in the industrial park, is open from 1-5 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
