The City of Stanley moved to renew a 10-year recycling contract with Express Disposal at its February 15 Council meeting. The contract renewal with motion by Second Ward Alderman Kevin Hendrickson seconded by Ward 3 Alderman Jacob Huff would include a spring and fall cleanup in the details—did we mention the 95-gallon ‘depot’ size recycling container, otherwise the same as your trash receptacle? Residents requiring less recycling space will have a three-month window to contact Express Disposal, after which Express “may charge $10.00 per event to switch sizes,” per contract.

“I make a motion for a ten year contract with Spring and fall cleanup,” Hendrickson said after brief discussion during regular session at the February 15 meeting. “And I’ll second it,” Huff said. The renewal by the City came after Express Disposal owner Ken Ness had showed up to a recent council meeting—the contract approval then being put on hold for particulars—and after Waste Management declined to submit its own proposal. While no reason beyond “Stanley specifications” was given by Waste Management in its contract turndown notice by email, Express Disposal owner Ness said during his earlier Council appearance that recycling had gone from being a net gain (profit) industry- wide, to a net loss, meaning that from being paid for recyclables, disposal services like his now had to pay in order to send recycling to the next stop, along with fuel costs for transport.

As such, the cost of recycling with the local disposal service as outlined per contract will begin at a price of $3.19 every other week in year 1, with an additional 51 cents tacked on to this for the cleanup service. Year 2 of the contract adds six cents to come out at a rate of $3.25 every other week and $3.76 with cleanup. Rates for the ten-year recycling servicer adjust upward for each subsequent year, with the Year 3 rate with cleanup registered at $3.83. Although the contract renewal is approved, no specific start date has been set, per City Clerk Nicole Thiel.

Regarding specific disposal fees, meanwhile, the drop off item fees for the full service station at N14985 Tieman Avenue over near Thorp are listed in the city packet.

For General Household Trash, the cost is $68 per ton, with a minimum fee of $20. For “demolition” items, the fee is likewise $68 per ton with a $30 minimum charge.

As to those who need to dispose of roof shingles, the cost is $35 per ton or 0.0175 per pound, with a minimum of $30, as with others.

If you have a refrigerator or freezer equipped with freon, the charge is $25 each. For non-freon appliances dropped off at the Tieman Avenue location (including washers, dryers and dishwashers), the cost is $15 each.

Express Disposal does not accept “hazardous waste, fluorescent bulbs, yard waste, batteries, or antifreeze,” though other safe disposal services are available for these items, generally an internet search away.

As to items which Express Disposal does accept though charging a specific fee, mattresses are $10 each, along with car or light truck tires. For a “Heavy Truck,” meanwhile, the cost is $30 minimum or $290 per ton. For tractor tires, the cost of disposal is $50 minimum or $290 per ton, similar to heavy truck tires.

As to TV disposal, a 36” inch plastic one costs $48 while those over 36” or with consoles are $70 and up.

As to monitor and laptop disposal, the cost is $38 each, while computer towers are $35. Modems, printers, scanners, fax machines, VCR and DVR are $10 each, while “computer peripheals,” keyboard, mice, speakers, drives, and cell phones, are $15 each to dispose of safely. Microwaves are $20 each, Copiers are $70 and up, while waste oil, perhaps refreshingly, is FREE. All loads must be tarped and prices are subject to change, as the pricing guide notes. But if you’re tempted to put that device in the ditch rather than pay a fee to dispose safely, consider this: people from elsewhere thinking in a similar manner, can do the same in this neck of the woods instead of behaving in their area, and that just means higher taxes and more work for town crews. Keep taxes low, dispose as provided for. Either that, or wait for the cleanup season—twice each year.