JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Jackson voted in favor to enter into a 12-month emergency contract with Richard’s Disposal on Tuesday, April 18.
The City Council approved the emergency contract 4-2.
A special hearing was held on Monday, April 17 in the case between the Jackson City Council and Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba over garbage collection in the city. The City of Jackson had been without a garbage contract since April 1, 2023.
After the hearing, Special Judge H. David Clark met with representatives of Richard’s Disposal, councilmembers and the mayor to discuss the emergency contract.
According to the City of Jackson’s Facebook page, garbage pickup will resume on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 a.m. Due to the high volume of trash that has collected since April 1, the City of Jackson and Richard’s Disposal officials are asking residents to abide by the following protocols:
- Please separate household garbage from leaves, branches and bulk items
- Limit bags to 60lbs or less
- Richard’s will collect two cans or six bags of household garbage from each home for the next few pickups
The new emergency contract is expected to end on March 31, 2024. As to what happens once the contract ends, there is no solid answer. However, leaders said they’re prepared to handle the challenges moving forward.
“We can say that we work to make sure that residents’ trash is going to be picked up, and so, we’re glad for that,” said Lumumba.
Richard’s Disposal filed a lawsuit against the City of Jackson after the City Council chose not to provide the company with a six-year contract. Officials with the company said the lawsuit would not be dropped.
Watch the full meeting below: