Springfield seeks public input on waste management changes
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) — The city of Springfield will begin collecting public feedback next month on proposed changes to its waste management system as part of an ongoing review that started in the summer of 2024.
The city wants to streamline and improve its waste and recycling services, including programs residents say are important to the community.
Neil Smith, who dropped off aluminum cans, cardboard, and other materials at the Franklin Recycling Center, said he regularly uses the facility to help the environment.
“We moved from California, and there, they used to pay us to do all this recycling. Here, we bring it for free. But if it’s good for somebody, it’s good for somebody,” Smith said.
City aims to rewrite waste management code.
Smith said he wishes more people knew recycling options were available and suggested the city needs more recycling locations, though he acknowledged property limitations.
“They should have more, but they know property is at a premium. And so where they’d have these things, people would not want to do recycling,” Smith said.
Erick Roberts with the City of Springfield’s Environmental Services said the city plans to address these issues by revising Chapter 94 of the City Code. Springfield wants to streamline trash operations and determine what services residents want.
“Could we establish collection hours that would work for both residents and haulers in the residential parts of our neighborhood? Bulky item pickup, yardwaste or organics collection — at least explore or have a conversation about some of those additional services,” Roberts said.
Roberts said input could lead to cleaner neighborhoods and streamlined service with consistent collection hours and schedules, clear communication between haulers and homeowners, and a simplified permit process for haulers.
The rewrite could clarify what can be recycled and make recycling more accessible, given that a study found that more than 40% of materials in landfills are recyclable.
“If the feedback is there and works with the code and those who provide the services, we could add additional recycling services at the curb or even a different or a new recycling center in the future,” Roberts said.
Three public meetings scheduled
The city will hold three meetings next month to gather public input. The first meeting will be Tuesday, March 10, at the Greene County Election Center’s Training Room at 1126 N. Boonville Avenue. The second will be Monday, March 16, at the Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library. The third will be Tuesday, March 24, at the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center.
Each session runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The sessions are come-and-go with small-group input activities. The City of Springfield has more information about this initiative here.
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