Hansen's Tree Service wins Branson recycling job

Debbie Redford, environmental specialist for the city, said Hansen Tree Service was selected from two bidders. The other was Florida company Total Source Tree Service.

Hansen Tree Service owner Jeff Hansen originally contacted the city of Branson in 2006, when he was considering a move to Reeds Spring. Since February, Hansen Tree Service has operated a 10,000 square-foot facility on State Highway 13 in Reeds Spring.

Redford said she and Branson Public Works Director Larry VanGilder visited Hansen’s recycling facility for the city of O’Fallon before making a decision. The Florida company proposed grinding wood products for the city at a cost of $650 per hour, while Hansen’s proposal was at no cost to the city, Redford said.

On Sept. 5, Hansen took over operation of the city’s yard-waste facility, which has been moved to Cooper Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on Fall Creek Road. The drop-off site for glass, aluminum and paper materials remains at the city recycling center, 601 Compton Drive.

Hansen said the startup will cost his company about $100,000, and he will use his own labor and machinery, including a $500,000 grinder, to produce mulch products available to the public. Under the terms of the agreement, Hansen has the right to sell the mulch and will pay the city $1 per cubic yard for mulch and compost from the proceeds of its retail sales. The city also will receive at no cost 400 cubic yards of mulch for its own use and will pay Hansen $5 per cubic yard for up to 500 cubic yards of its nondyed, top quality mulch.

Redford said Hansen’s machinery can handle root balls, stumps, wooden pallets and whole trees. Another plus for the city is that businesses can now deliver vegetative waste.

“It gives us a lot more versatility,” Redford said. “We have not allowed commercial entities before; we’ve only taken residential brush and yard waste.”

Redford said an expanded yard-waste recycling operation is overdue.

“We were handling all the brush for (Taney County). For years, we have been stockpiling the yard waste. Once every two years, we would have someone come in to grind it. That would cost us $5,000 for eight to 10 hours (of work).”

Redford said the previous recycled product was coarse and unusable for regular lawn care. Hansen will be able to provide compost and a full line of natural and dyed organic mulch starting in the spring.

Drop-off charges are $5 a yard for Branson residents, $8.50 a yard for commercial entities and $10 a yard for residents outside of Branson. An average-size pickup truck holds about two yards. The facility is open 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m.–noon Saturday. A locator map and more information is available at www.cityofbranson.org/pw/recycling.