Mason City council approves purchasing equipment for automated sanitation services

MASON CITY — The Mason City City Council  last night approved the purchase of equipment as the city moves towards automated sanitation services.

The council back in March as part of the budget process approved funds to move forward with the modifications to the city’s sanitation system, calling for automated garbage collection as well as improvements to recycling. That includes residents being provided bins for both garbage and recycling, with all the recycling going into one bin.

The council approved purchasing the refuse and recycling carts from Cascade Engineering of Grand Rapids Michigan in the amount of $1.26 million, and the purchase of four automated side-loader refuse trucks from Peterbilt via the Elliott Equipment Company of Grimes in central Iowa for $1.63 million.

The city’s public works director Jim Collins says people will be provided a 65-gallon garbage cart, but they can opt for bigger or smaller if they need to.  “If you say nothing, you are going to get a 65-gallon cart, but you will have the option, it’s going to be sent out to each home, and they can choose to either have the smaller or the larger unit. Everyone gets the 95-gallon one for recycling. So if you don’t say anything, you’ll get a 65, and if that’s too small or too big for you, you do have time in the first few months to exchange it for the right size.”

The city is aiming for a late spring or early summer start to automated garbage and recycling.