City Clean-Up Is Warrensburg’s Latest Garbage Related Challenge

Author Rob Creighton followed up with the City of Warrensburg on some of the questions he had at the end of this piece. Warrensburg City Manager Danielle Dulin was kind enough to answer his questions. Look for the follow-up story Monday Morning entitled "Here's Why Warrensburg Isn't Doing Bulk Pick-Up During Fall Clean Up". We'll link to it from here when it's up. 

Just like clockwork, one of the things that Warrensburg residents count on is the City's spring and fall citywide clean-up. This fall, however, Warrensburg's citywide clean-up isn't so much a clean-up as much as it is a brush collection service.

In a press release yesterday the City of Warrensburg announced they will only be engaging in brush collection to all residents within the city limits. Bulky and heavy items usually collected in the citywide clean-up will not be collected this fall. That means that old couch on your back porch. The old dishwasher sitting in your garage. It'll have to sit there until the spring.

The City says they have to postpone the pick-up while they rebid the collection through the City's formal process. It's the latest challenge for Warrensburg residents, some of whom have had challenges with Republic Services collecting their garbage on time since they bought Heartland Waste over the summer.

As for the brush collection, the City says:

Collection is limited to brush and tree cuttings. Commercial cuttings will not be accepted, that is the contractor’s responsibility. All vines, thorny plants such as hawthorns, rose bushes, and small brush must be tied and bundled. The bundle shall not exceed twelve (12) inches in diameter. Shrubbery and ornamentals with root balls attached cannot be accepted. Small twigs must be placed in an open-topped cardboard box, do not use plastic bags. Yard waste, garden waste, leaves, and grass clippings will not be picked up.

As a Warrensburg resident, I'm frustrated with the challenges the City is currently facing regarding garbage pick up. Surprisingly, our garbage got picked up two weeks in a row on time. Including the day after Labor Day, which was surprising because I figured there was no way Republic would have their act together the day after a holiday. This week I've been able to enjoy the stench of rotting garbage while it seems Republic has forgotten about my street again.

I'm frustrated for my neighbor that has a couch and love seat out at the curb waiting for the City to take it away. I'm frustrated for everyone that's stored an old appliance, an old mattress, or an old piece of furniture for the fall pick-up dates. Not to mention I'm concerned about the amount of larger items that regularly get placed out at the curb for pick up that just seem to sit there.

For now, I'm left with questions: Why does the City need to rebid the bulky/heavy items pick up? Is it related to Republic Services purchasing Heartland Waste and the challenges Republic is having? Why can't the bulky/heavy items pick-up rebidding be done sooner, so pick-up can happen sooner? And finally, what is the City doing to help residents who have garbage pick-up problems? Let's see what the City has to say about this. I've reached out and I'll share the answers when I get them.

Brush collection is still scheduled for the week of October 4 for residents east of Maguire. And the week of October 11 for residents west of Maguire.