(The Center Square) – As city of St. Louis residents clean up after Memorial Day gatherings, they can resume sorting recyclables for pickup instead of putting them in regular trash bins.
Last July, a labor shortage forced the city’s refuse division to discontinue a separate pick up of recyclables. Last week, the city announced it was awarding a $3,000 incentive for new refuse truck operators with funding from the Streets Department personnel budget. The weekly pay rate is $1,204--$62,608 annually. Drivers get the incentive pay and the salary increases to $1,377–$71,604 annually after an 11-month working test period. The city announced it hired nine new drivers since the program started and is looking to hire more.
After discontinuing pickup of recycling in alleyways, the city encouraged residents to take recyclables to approximately 30 locations. Residential trash bills remained at $14 per month. Some residents wanted the charge reduced since they were hauling their own items to the recycling locations.