HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — While recycling is voluntary here in Huntsville, those who choose to do so have been having a hard time lately with pickup, leaving many asking the question, Why? With Red River Waste Solutions, the contractor for the Recycling Alliance of North Alabama declaring bankruptcy, a new contractor Platform Capital will take over outside of bankruptcy. Problems with service trucks have been a primary issue.
" The major problem had to do with the fact that several of their trucks were broken down," Huntsville City Councilman Bill Kling stated. "Ever since the pandemic, it's been very, very hard to get replacement parts. Anyone here in town that has a car that is goes into the repair shop, they know you have to wait for a long period of time to get that part to come in."
Still, residents have been taking to apps like the NextDoor app, to voice their concern. Councilman Kling says the calls have been rolling in too.
"I think well over 2000 phone calls were made to them last month," Kling stated. "I know that another council member had a situation where she put her recycling out. I think it stayed out for well over a week until it was finally collected. So, we've heard from the public and the solid waste authority also has heard from the public. And I think steps are being taken."
Platform Capital purchased Red River in August 2022. With some experience in waste management. Kling says help is on the way.
"Please be patient," Kling states. "There is help coming and I think the new company coming in is going to be taking some very quick steps and will get the recycling caught up in the very near future again. The Solid Waste Authority has been working very hard on it. They've heard from council members, and they've heard from the public."
CURBSIDE RECYCLING RECOVERY ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND
HUNTSVILLE, AL. – The Solid Waste Disposal Authority of the City of Huntsville (SWDA) and its curbside recycling program, Recycling Alliance of North Alabama (RANA), announced today that the City of Huntsville Public Works Department and the Madison County Waste Control Department will temporarily assist this weekend with curbside collections that have faced delays over the past few weeks.
The RANA curbside collection program contractor since August of this year, Platform Waste Solutions, has recently experienced delays due to intermittent staffing, supply chain and mechanical issues with trucks which affected the timeliness of collections.
“We understand there are many frustrated residents, and we apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. A recovery plan is in place for this weekend, December 2 and 3, to pick up all uncollected carts,” said John “Doc” Holladay, Executive Director, SWDA. “We would like to thank Mayor Battle, Chairman Strong, Huntsville City Council, Madison County Commission and their sanitation departments who have come in to help create a recovery plan to get all routes current.”
All residents who have experienced delays are asked to please leave their RANA cart on the curb throughout the weekend to allow for the City of Huntsville, Madison County, and the RANA trucks to service recycling carts. All collections should be caught up by the end of the weekend.
The City and County will utilize their employees and trucks for the collections. All materials collected as part of this recovery effort will be sent to the recycling materials recovery processor in Chattanooga, TN. The City and County are assisting for the current backlog and SWDA will reimburse their costs for their assistance.
For more information about the RANA curbside program, please visit www.recycling-alliance.com.