A new waste disposal contract, quickly filling landfills and state waste legislation are three concerns DeKalb needs to address in the coming months.

The DeKalb City Council discussed the city’s expiring garbage collection contract and a possible city-wide recycling program at a special meeting Monday.

DeKalb currently contracts for garbage collection with the DeKalb County Disposal Company, 115 Simonds Ave., and Mayor Greg Sparrow said DCD now collects eight percent of the city’s garbage. The contract with DCD expires June 30, 1990.

The city will request proposals from various waste companies including a once or twice a week pickup, curbside recyclable garbage pickup, and a combination of public and private collection of landscape waste, possibly including oil and batteries.

DeKalb public services currently pickup leaves at curbsides for single-family homes.

According to state legislation, landscape waste, which includes grass clippings, leaves and branches, will not be accepted by landfills beginning July 1, 1990.

State-wide legislation also will require all counties with a population over 100,000 to recycle 25 percent of all waste generated in that county by March 1, 1995.

In related business, 6th Ward Alderman Jaimie Pennington proposed the establishment of an ordinance mandating recycling but the issue was not resolved.

A pilot curbside recycling program done over the past five months in DeKalb by DeKalb County Recycling, 129 Simonds Ave., shows a 75 percent voluntary participation by single-family residents.

DCD Secretary-treasurer Calvin Tigchelaar, said he does not support a mandatory recycling program because it “might turn people against the program.”

DeKalb City Manager Mark Stevens suggested the city charge more for those residents who do not recycle or produce more garbage. He also said the city could sell garbage bags only the contractor would pick up, instead of charging a flat refuse rate.

Fred Cramer, a salesman from Elgin Wayne Disposal, a Waste Management Company, offered the recycling services of his company. “All I want to do is make the city aware that we are in the area and offer our services,” Cramer said.

Elgin Wayne Disposal recycles newspapers; tin and aluminum cans; and brown, green and clear glass, he said.

Cramer said he thinks requiring specific garbage bags for collection is a “good idea. It causes 100 percent participation,” Cramer said and cited a sister company as a specific example.