By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The 2nd annual city-wide cleanup in Great Bend wrapped up this past Sunday and final numbers of collection are being added up, according to Public Works Director Jason Cauley. Citizens were allowed to dump refuse, tires, metal, mattresses, appliances and almost anything they were looking to get rid of during the 10-day cleanup at the Sunflower Diversified Services Recycling Center.
Armed with several 30-yard and 40-yard dumpster containers, Cauley said 36 of the 76 dumpster loads this year consisted of tires.
"I don't know what the total cost of disposing of the tires is quite yet because they're still tallying that up," said Cauley. "I do know that the price went up from $150 last year to $248 a ton this year. It will be significantly larger cost this year. We're waiting for all the finalizations. We've only had a handful of invoices come in so far."
RELATED STORY: 75 tons of tires disposed of during Great Bend's city-wide cleanup
Cauley said a check will be coming soon from ACME Scrap with the city disposing of eight tons of scrap metal.
Last year, Great Bend residents filled 51 of the commercial-sized dumpsters. That number was up to 76 this year. Excluding labor from city staff that assisted residents with unloading, the city’s expense was just under $20,000 last year.