Jackson fined $900K for last year's trash crisis - WLBT
Jackson fined $900K for last year’s trash crisis
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Jackson’s failure to pick up residents’ trash last year could cost as much as $900,000.
According to an agreed order handed down recently by the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality, Jackson must pay the state $375,000 in two installments over the next 90 days.
The remaining $525,000 will be held in abeyance for a period of two years from the date of the order.
If Jackson fails to provide trash collections during that time, the remainder of the penalty will be due immediately upon written notification from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
The fines come for the city’s failure to provide trash collections last spring after the mayor and council could not agree on a long-term waste-hauling contract. Failing to provide trash disposal services constituted a violation of several state environmental statutes.
The order was signed by City Attorney Drew Martin on February 16.
It comes just weeks before Jackson’s current emergency trash-hauling contract expires and was obtained by WLBT a day before the city was expected to appear at a hearing before the commission to answer for the violations.
Collections in the city are currently being provided by Richard’s Disposal, as part of an emergency contract approved by the council in April 2023. That agreement expires on March 31.
The council could consider another garbage contract at its meeting next week, months after the city issued a new request for proposals (RFP) for trash collection services.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to take the winning proposal to the council next week. However, he would not release the name of the firm, saying he wants the city to begin contract negotiations first.
Two firms responded to the November proposal: National Waste United and Richard’s.
Jackson Director of Communications Melissa Faith Payne was not immediately available for comment.
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