Clean-up program on ‘hold’ pending review

Suspension will not affect leaf/grass collection program

The City of Bartlesville’s Spring/Fall Clean-up coupon program launched last year has been suspended pending further review, Public Works Director Keith Henry said recently.

The program, which permits Bartlesville residents to dispose of trash and other unwanted items at the Osage Landfill during a six-month window for no additional cost, is significantly more expensive to implement than previous clean-up campaigns, Henry said. Previous campaigns have included a weeklong window for disposal at the landfill and curb-side service during regularly scheduled trash collection.

“We started the coupon program last year thinking it would give residents a longer window to dispose of their unwanted items at the landfill,” Henry said. “It was very popular for that reason, but the cost to implement the program has been quite prohibitive.”

Henry said that while there is no cost for residents at the time of disposal, landfill fees are still paid through the City’s General Fund. He said the coupon program was nearly twice as expensive last year compared to previous versions of the program.

City officials will be reviewing the spring and fall clean-up program in the coming weeks to decide how to proceed, Henry said.

“We’re going to look at all the options and decide which version of the program best serves our residents and still allows us to be good stewards of rate payers’ money,” Henry said. “We’ll looking forward to having a service in place very soon.”

Henry noted the suspension does not apply to another popular City program — the Spring and Fall Leaf/Grass Collection program.

“The successful spring and fall leaf and grass pick-up for yard debris will continue uninterrupted,” he said.

Updated information regarding changes to the City’s clean-up program will be posted on the City’s website, www.cityofbartlesville.org and in City Beat, the City’s free, weekly e-newsletter, as well as distributed in customer utility bills.