HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – During the Aug. 19 Hopkinsville City Council meeting, the topic of curbside recycling was debated once again. Councilmembers were set to have their second and final vote to eliminate the service from the Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise, which led to a long discussion about bringing in a third-party recycling service.

At a previous Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole meeting, it was revealed that only around 1,000 of HSWE’s 10,000 customers utilized the recycling service, costing the department to lose over $200,000 a year, $12 million all in all.

“We’ve studied this for 12 years and we gave you the results, and quite frankly it’s a loser,” said Wendell Lynch from the HSWE board during this week’s meeting. “I’ve recycled from the very beginning, I believe in green, but I’m also a realist.”

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Opposition on the council

Hopkinsville resident Debby Howard spoke up during public comments defending the recycling service, imploring that they delay the vote and speak with the community further.

Ahead of the vote, Councilmember Travis Martin made a motion that would delay the vote by 60 days to accommodate additional discussion with residents and explore other options. During this period of time, the city would be responsible for covering the cost of recycling services past Sept. 30, which would be over $20,000.

Councilmember Amy Craig chimed in saying, “Somehow as a city, we have failed at getting this information out, because I think the public felt blindsided with recycling and not understanding why in the world we are suddenly stopping it…we just don’t have the public support.”

Bringing in third party recycling service, final vote passes

After lengthy discussion, it was determined that after eliminating the service, the city could further investigate solutions and possibly bring in a third-party service to take over. This was an option that HSWE had initially pitched to the committee of the whole weeks ago.

The motion to pause the vote failed, and Councilmember Martin was the only vote against repealing the service. This final vote completely eliminates curbside recycling from HSWE services.

Much to the agreement of the council, it was decided that third party options will be explored that will bring in a separate recycling service to the city. This will commence during the September committee of the whole meeting.

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