NATCHEZ — A curbside-recycling test program expected to start this month has been put on hold until city officials decide which company will be awarded garbage collection and disposal contracts.

New contracts for the city services must be awarded by June 22 after a ruling by Circuit Court Judge Forrest “Al” Johnson stated the Natchez Board of Aldermen’s November decision to award the city’s collection contract to Waste Pro USA and disposal contract to Riverbend Environmental Services violated the law.

Waste Management, the company that previously had the garbage collection contract, appealed the aldermen’s decision to circuit court.

City Attorney Hyde Carby said he is in the final stages of drafting the request for proposal (RFP) for the services, which he hopes to have ready by next month’s alderman meeting.

“This week, I’ll be distributing the draft to the members of the board and collecting their thoughts and comments,” Carby said. “That way we could discuss it at our next meeting, which gives us about two months to go over everything.

“I hope that’s ample time.”

Waste Pro will continue to provide collection services and Waste Management disposal services until new contracts are awarded in June, which is when the current disposal contract expires.

Jim Smith, chairman of the Green Alliance, said the recycling program was put on hold with Waste Pro until the new contracts are awarded.

“It didn’t make sense for them to start a curbside program if they didn’t end up getting the contract or something,” Smith said. “I think we’re just better off to wait and see whichever company gets it and then start.

“Everything is ready to go, but we’re just waiting to see what those proposals are going to entail.”

Carby said the curbside recycling program would be included in the RFPs sent out.

“Of course it’s going to be up to the board to decide which company, but it’ll absolutely be included,” Carby said. “We’ll certainly be asking about it, and we hope it does start soon because there’s a lot of momentum and interest in the community.”

Mayor Butch Brown said the curbside recycling program would be an essential part of the bidding process.

“We’re committed to it, and so are our providers,” Brown said. “I think we’ve made that abundantly clear.”

Representatives from Waste Management, Waste Pro USA and Riverbend Environmental Services have all said their companies would submit proposals when the city issues a new RFP.

Currently, members of the community who participate in recycling must personally bring their items to Concordia Metals locations in Natchez or Vidalia.

“The drop-off program is going great, and we’re just waiting for the city proposals to go out and get the curbside program going,” said Smith, who also works for Concordia Metals. “I think the city understands the momentum this has and how much it’s been growing since we started.

“The time has come for it.”