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A years-old problem of non-city residents dumping yard waste at the city brush/mulch site soon may be eradicated, city officials said.
A $300,000 grant for recycling equipment from the state Department of Environmental Protection soon may go before City Council, according to Jason Fitzgerald, president of Penn Strategies, author of the grant application.
He said the grant would pay for a card reading system, ending the need for residents to get a key when the gate at the site at 1500 W. Third St. is locked.
It also would pay for a leaf and chipper truck and accessories, he said.
The match for the grant is 10 percent, he said.
"We are thrilled to have the potential for a grant to maybe end this ongoing problem at the mulch pile and to assist our city crews and provide more efficient recycling of the yard waste across the city, Councilman Randall J. Allison said. "The details must be reviewed yet, but it is a considerable sized grant," he said.
The new leaf truck proposed would allow the city to more efficiently pick up yard waste and the new chipper truck will enable the city to recycle limbs, stumps and other tree parts.
The proposed leaf truck costs $86,634; a leaf machine, $86,031; a chipper truck, $55,436; chipper attachment; $33,184 and gate and card reading system, $50,000, according to grant details.
The truck could be used by crews in citywide recyclable efforts to chop up limbs and stumps, Fitzgerald said.
Council's finance and public works committees will review the grant application and purchases next month, he said.