CAIRO — City of Cairo officials started talking trash Monday night regarding the future of the city’s solid waste disposal before the closure of the city’s landfill. 

On Monday, the council heard presentations from two of the four bids on solid waste collection and disposals the city received on April 28. The two presenters were the lowest bidders. 

David Dent, marketing manager for Advanced Disposal Services, presented the specifics of the company’s bid of $94,377.48 per month.

“We have looked at options of going to neighboring counties that have landfills,” Dent said, noting the nearest landfill is in Valdosta. 

Dent also noted the possibility of putting in a transfer station in Cairo for the city’s residents. 

With the lifetime of Cairo’s landfill at the forefront, Dent said Advanced Disposal could assist with its closing. 

“It can be very tedious, it can be very difficult,” he said.   

Chris Taylor, owner of Taylor Waste Services, also discussed specifics of his company’s bid, which totaled to $91,595.75 per month.

Taylor said his company serves a number of commercial communities in Cairo. 

Taylor also noted the life expectancy of the city’s landfill. 

“As far as the life of it, I would say two to six (years),” he said of Cairo’s landfill, depending on the volume brought in an out of the landfill. 

Both companies were questioned about the workforce once the landfill closed, and both said they would be willing to absorb the workforce.  

The city council did not take action regarding the solid waste disposal and collection proposals.  

Cairo’s landfill is projected to last another three-and-half years. 

The request for bids was for a five-year contract, set to begin no later than July 1, 2017, according to meeting correspondence. 

The other two bids the city received was from the City of Thomasville for $123,555.45 per month and Waste Pro for $108,190.50 per month.

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.