April Tornado Still Affecting Recycling

The effects of the April 20th tornado that hit Columbia are still being felt, and likely will for several more years. The tornado destroyed the city’s recycling facility.

So far, that has meant a 5% increase in trash by weight at the city landfill since the city closed the recycling center and then demolished it, according to a report by KOMU.

Columbia temporarily suspended curbside recycling pickup after the tornado, but resumed curbside pickup after public complaints, but now they just take the recyclables to the landfill.

Columbia City Council discussed possible options for a new Material Recovery Facility at its pre-council meeting Monday.

At that meeting, Kate Vasquez presented the options for the city to move forward. The three current options will cost between $22 and $26 million.

RRT Design and Construction, a national engineering and construction company, has been tasked to develop the solutions for a new recycling facility.