Hopkinsville Solid Waste General Manager Tony Sicari gave an update to Hopkinsville City Council Tuesday night about the city’s recycling program which he stated is unsalvageable.
For the last three months, Sicari said they have tried everything they could to rescue the recycling program, but it can’t be saved and it has lost a total of $2.6 million over the last few years.
click to download audioHe added that the plan is to stop providing the service the first of July to approximately 700 customers.
click to download audioSicari says he takes personal responsibility for the recycling program, but he’s talked to other companies who have ended their recycling programs, including GFL — the third-largest solid waste company in the world.
click to download audioCouncilwoman Alethea West said there was no need for Sicari to apologize because this was presented by the Economic Development Council for the city council to try the recycling program to help the city become a Gold or Silver Star City for economic development.
click to download audioHowever, West added she is sorry for the loss of taxpayer money and she believes going forward the council needs to consider the behavior of citizens.
click to download audioWhen the recycling program was launched in 2018, Sicari said they purchased about 1,000 recycling bins at $75 a piece and they aren’t going to just throw them away. He said they would put Hopkinsville Solid Waste stickers on the bins and use them for collecting trash at special city events.
