Michael Dinwiddie — mayor of Spring Hill, Tennessee, says he’s concerned about not wanting the government to force "personal ideologies onto everyone," and is refusing to finalize a contract with Waste Management that includes a curbside recycling collection service, The Tennessean reports.
Dinwiddie won't sign an approved contract with Waste Management because of citizen complaints over the $3.58 monthly charge for curbside recycling. The mayor says he’s planning on sending out a citywide survey in the next city water bill to gauge citizen interest in the new service.
"I do not believe it is the government's role to force its personal ideologies onto everyone, especially when it involves increasing the rates that our residents have to pay for a service," Dinwiddie wrote in an email to aldermen and city staff obtained by The Tennessean. "Recycling is important but should be voluntary, and if there is a charge for the service, then I want the residents to have a voice in the matter."
Dinwiddie indicated in the letter that if a majority of residents note that they don't want to pay for the service, then he will take action to modify or rescind the contract. If they are willing to pay for the service, then he will move the recycling contract forward.
Springhill is a small city of about 30,000 people, an hour south of Nashville.