ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS REGARDING THE REOPENING OF THE LEE TOWNSHIP REFUSE & RECYCLE CENTER:
- Will curbside trash pickup continue after the re-opening of the Refuse & Recycle Center? YES. As explained at the April 10th Board Meeting, curbside trash pickup will continue.
- Will residents have to choose which service to utilize? NO. As explained at the April 10th Board meeting, residents can utilize both curbside trash pickup and the Refuse & Recycle Center.
- Was there a vote? A vote at this time could not be considered, as the Township is contracted with Republic Curbside Services until February 2026.
- Will the re-opening of the Refuse & Recycle Center result in an increase in the resident’s annual solid waste fee? NO. As explained at the April 10th Board Meeting, the re-opening of the Refuse & Recycle Center will not result in an increase in the annual solid waste fee. In fact, the annual fee will be less on next winter’s tax bill.
- Is it safe to utilize the Refuse & Recycle Center? YES. As explained at the April 10th Board Meeting, a representative from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has recently inspected the Refuse & Recycle Center and has deemed it compliant with MIOSHA’s safety standards with a few minor improvements being recommended. Steps have already been taken by volunteers at no expense to the township to make the recommended improvements. There will also be staff available at the Refuse & Recycle Center that can provide assistance once the site is open for business.
- Will the Township be taking any steps to prevent unauthorized use of the Refuse & Recycle Center? YES. As explained at the April 10th Board Meeting, the Board is mindful of past abuse and steps will be taken to minimize the risk of unauthorized individuals utilizing the Refuse & Recycle Center. Any attempt by unauthorized individuals to dispose of waste will not be tolerated by the Board and the Township Staff.
- Will the Township be taking any steps to regulate the type of waste to be disposed of at the Refuse & Recycle Center? YES. As explained at the April 10th Board Meeting, guidelines will be forthcoming addressing the type and volume of solid waste that residents can dispose of at the Refuse & Recycle Center.
- Why has there been activity at the dump? Township officials spent time cleaning the grounds and assessing damages from vandalism. You may have also noticed MIOSHA representation (State of Michigan) inspecting the facility as well as Midland County Electrical Inspectors.
- Was there a project team working on this initiative? Yes, there was a project team consisting of Township Volunteers as well as Trustee Reiber. This project was discussed at multiple Township meetings over the last few months and no township funds were spent by the project team.
- Who will be managing the Refuse & Recycling Center? The DPW Foreman, Mark Pitt, and the DPW Assistant, Matt Cooper.
- What will the hours of operation be? Tuesdays from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM and Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
- How long is the new contract with GFL (for the Refuse & Recycle Center)? 12 months.
- How long is the Republic curbside contract? 5 years, expiring in February 2026.
- Were salvage rights given to the DPW employees? Yes, the Board voted to provide salvage rights to the DPW employees because the Township will not be engaging in the collection of scrap metal. Any decision to accept scrap metal will be provided by the DPW employees at their discretion and expense. This may or may not be profitable for the DPW employee depending on hauling costs and metal value.
- This opportunity is fully in response to discussions between the Board members and residents over the last several months. The Board is listening to their residents!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT A BOARD MEMBER. A VIDEO OF THE APRIL 10 TH BOARD MEETING IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT THE TOWNSHIP’S FACEBOOK PAGE.