Birmingham Recycling Kicked Up To Twice A Month, City Buys Refuse Equipment
Birmingham city residents who don't have a recycling bin often leave piles of material piled up on the curb.
Birmingham has increased its recycling pick-up schedule to twice a month, though Mayor Randall Woodfin says his “full intent” is to eventually return to the program’s pre-COVID weekly schedule.
The city’s recycling program was temporarily halted by COVID-19 last April. It resumed three months later with a reduced, once-a-month pickup schedule that remained in effect for nearly a year. This month, pickups were increased to twice monthly, on the first and third Wednesday of each month. The next pick-up is scheduled for July 21.
Woodfin said the number of pickups would likely increase when the city’s public works department purchases additional vehicles. The council did approve the city’s purchase of one automatic refuse truck on Tuesday for just more than $322,000.
Last year, Woodfin floated the idea — to mixed reception — of privatizing the city’s waste collection program, calling its current form “unsustainable.”
Also approved Tuesday was the purchase of a landfill dozer for $712,575 and an excavator for $331,785. These purchases were highlighted by District 5 Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, who pulled them off the council’s consent agenda so that they could be read aloud before the public.
“I just wanted this one to be read because landfills are not free,” O’Quinn said. “A million dollars of equipment for just moving around dirt and trash at the landfill — not to mention all the other expenses. It’s just something to think about.”
Wife of South Korea’s jailed ex-President Yoon arrested over corruption allegations
Investigators say the former president and first lady exerted undue influence on the conservative People Power Party to nominate a specific candidate during a 2022 election.
Danielle Spencer, who played little sister Dee on ‘What’s Happening!!,’ dies at 60
A family spokesperson said Spencer died Monday after battling cancer for several years. As Dee, she was a deadpan, wisecracking sister on What's Happening!! Spencer later became a veterinarian.
White House calls for a ‘comprehensive review’ of eight Smithsonian museums
The effort is focused on bringing the organization in line with President Trump's cultural directives ahead of the country's 250th anniversary celebrations.
Trump official tells census workers Congress has final say over the count, not Trump
Days after the president's call for a "new" census, the top official overseeing the Census Bureau told employees that Congress, not Trump, has final say over the tally, NPR has exclusively learned.
‘Alien: Earth’ is one of the best shows so far this year
The TV prequel to the Alien movies calls back to the best elements of those original films — including questions about corporate exploitation and technological advancements.
State Department slashes its annual reports on human rights
Required by Congress, the reports no longer single out things like rigged elections or sexual violence against children as human rights violations.
