QUINCY - Quincy officials are considering a curb side recycling program for the city.

The city council plans to address whether the city should start a recycling program and what it should look like as it works on its budget. The council recently agreed to negotiate with CDSI for its garbage services.

Mayor Jim Hemberry said the city's Public Utilities and Enterprises Committee started negotiating with the company.

"I'm going to be bringing you information during the budget workshops about some rate scenarios, so you can make a decision about what you want to do," he told the council.

The first budget workshop is scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m. at Quincy City Hall, located at 104 B Street SW.

Hemberry placed the item on the recent council agenda so people could see it, rather than it be buried in the budget, he said.

"I wanted to make sure it was out there," he said. "What I'm assuming we'll do is, we'll talk about this during budget workshops. Once the council sort of reaches a consensus, I still think we need to have the public come in and have their opportunity to voice their opinion about it before we move forward."

CDSI Vice President Mark Wash said the council first needs to decide whether it wants curb side recycling in the city.

"Whatever the city chooses to do, CDSI is willing to participate and provide that service," he said. "(We need to) make sure we take the issue one step at a time. Right now the decision that needs to be made is, whether or not we're going to recycle at all."

Wash pointed out some of the issues around recycling, such as whether the public can afford or wants to pay for an additional expense to provide for the service.

Once the council decides it wants recycling, it can move forward on to what type of recycling it wants, Wash said.

"Then we can talk about what the available commodities would be provided in that single stream program," he said. "Don't let the commodity issue get in the way of deciding whether or not we're going to recycle or not going to recycle ... There are people out there that can recycling everything, but it affects your commodity prices, your returns and the overall cost."