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Jackson fined $900,000 for 2023 garbage crisis

By Kaitlin Howell Feb 22, 2024 | 10:19 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) said the City of Jackson was fined $900,000 for failure to pick up residents’ garbage in 2023.

According to a document, the city must pay $375,000 of the penalty to MDEQ as follows:

  • The first payment of $187,500 to be paid within 45 days after the agreed order was executed by the MDEQ executive director or his designee
  • The second payment of $187,500 to be paid within 90 days after the agreed order was executed by the MDEQ executive director or his designee

Officials said the remainder of the penalty, totaling $525,000, shall be held in abeyance for a period of two years from the date of the order pending compliance with the agreed order. If the city fails to comply, the applicable penalty account held in abeyance shall become immediately due.

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The City of Jackson failed to perform curbside collection and disposal of residential garbage throughout the capital city from April 1, 2023, to April 18, 2023. Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba and the City Council could not agree on a garbage vendor.

The city later entered into an emergency contract with Richard’s Disposal for a year. The emergency contract will end on March 31, 2024.

During the new request for proposals (RFP) period, Lumumba said only two companies submitted a bid. One of those companies was Richard’s Disposal. Recently, Lumumba said the review committee has informed him of a recommendation. He said they have to go into contract negotiations before the company is presented to the City Council.

Richard’s Disposal filed a complaint against the city over the new RFP. Litigation between the City of Jackson and Richard’s Disposal is still pending.