Transcript Staff Writer

Curbside recycling will launch in the urban Norman area March 1, after Norman city councilmembers approved a five-year contract between Waste Management and the Norman Municipal Authority at the council's regular Tuesday meeting.

"I'm unofficially speaking for (Citizens Organized to Recycle the Environment) to say thank you for keeping the recycling effort going and that it is happening in March," said former city councilmember Lyntha Wesner to council at the conclusion of the meeting.

CORE members were strong proponents behind approval of Norman's recycling referendum passed overwhelmingly May 8.

Councilmembers split 6-1 on their vote on the contract, with Ward 2 councilmember Richard Stawicki casting the "nay" vote, citing Waste Management's ability to raise rates if its costs go up and not including voluntary participation. Councilmembers Carol Price Dillingham, Rachel Butler, David Hopper, Doug Cubberley, Dan Quinn and Mayor Cindy Rosenthal voted in favor. Bob Thompson and Hal Ezzell were absent.

The City of Norman will begin billing its utility customers $3 per month for curbside recycling when service begins March 1. The March 1 date became necessary when enough equipment was not available to begin on the Jan. 1 date in the referendum.

Waste Management will do curbside recycling of glass, newspapers, magazines, No. 1 and 2 plastics, steel and tin cans, aluminum cans and junk mail. No corrugated cardboard or chipboard will be picked up.

Curbside recycling pickup will be the same day as current trash pickup.

A minimum 18-gallon plastic container will be provided by Waste Management to customers who are utility customers and currently have a polycart. Wheels or lids will be optional for an additional charge. Replacement bins would be about $15.

Apartment dwellers and rural sanitation customers will not be included or billed.

A provision in the contract allows Waste Management to increase its fees if it has documented increased processing costs or tipping fees, which raised some objection on council and with a few members of the public.

"They would have to show us proof that the cost of processing has gone up," Komiske said. "They couldn't just say 'whoop, it went up.'"

The company will provide monthly and annual reports and the City will field any complaints, passing them on to the company.

Council received two bids -- one from Waste Management and one from its own sanitation department.

"We were definitely willing," Komiske said, of the City's bid. "Expertise was definitely in favor of Waste Management."