Slots open to recycle e-waste
The free collection will be Saturday at the Watters Street facility as work slows on the new facility on Lavender Drive.
A free e-waste recycling collection is slated for Saturday at the RomeFloyd Recycling Center, but drop-off appointments will be required.
Friday at 5 p.m. is the deadline to sign up for a slot between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to bring electronics waste — such as computers, printers and televisions — to the center at 405 Watters St. Call 706291-5266 during business hours.
“Please get a confirmation of your appointment and don’t simply leave a message,” Public Works Director Michael Skeen said.
Scheduling appointments helps to keep traffic flowing smoothly at the site, which has limited space. Work is proceeding on a new, larger facility in the old Zartic plant, 412 Lavender Drive, where officials expect to hold recycling events next year.
“If all goes well, we could open by April 1,” Skeen said Tuesday.
The 2013 special purpose, local option sales tax package contains $1.3 million to remodel and equip the new center.
Crigler Enterprises won a $798,000 bid earlier this year to custom-design and build a sorting and baling installation for the facility. However, the single bid submitted to remodel the interior came in about $250,000 too high.
Skeen said he met with AB Construction officials to discuss what the county could do in-house to lower the $621,000 cost, but couldn’t cement a deal.
“We think we can do better if we rebid the contract,” he said. “We’re hoping to get (the request for proposals) out next week, before Thanksgiving.”
The building needs a fire suppression system, scales and storage structure. Offices, a conference room and training room also are planned.
Some heavy equipment such as forklifts, and restoration of the Watters Street site, also will be funded through the SPLOST earmark.
Crigler’s contract gave them 16 weeks to install the sorter, but most of the other work must be done first. Skeen said the company is at a point where it can stop work and do other projects until the building is ready.
“Fortunately there’s no big hiccup there,” he said.
The new RFP will likely allow 30 days for companies to respond. Skeen said he’s hoping to have a recommendation for the Floyd County Commission by their first meeting in January.
‘We think we can do better if we rebid the contract. We’re hoping to get (the request for proposals) out next week, before Thanksgiving.’ Michael Skeen
Public Works