West Haven — Waste Management representatives briefed the West Haven City Council on a proposed optional curbside recycling program and an upcoming renewal of the city’s waste contract during the Oct. 15 council meeting; the council did not take a vote on the item.

The company described two enrollment models: an opt-in program and an opt-out program that would deliver containers to households automatically and allow a 30-day window to return them. “There’s 2 programs. There’s either an opt in or there’s an opt out where that opt out, they would have the option up to 30 days for us to come pick up that container,” Waste Management representative Blake told the council.

Why it matters: council members said an opt-out model could prompt resident complaints if households are billed without actively enrolling. Council members also pressed Waste Management on pricing sensitivity to participation rates, handling of tipping fees, service for townhomes and apartments, and how the city would be notified if local recycling processors temporarily stop accepting material.

Company officials said pricing would be tied to participation and to regional tip fees. “Right now, nearby cities are going to Wasatch Integrated because we get a very aggressive tip fee there, and that's how we priced out the structure based upon that tip fee,” Blake said. He added that Waste Management would continue to look for lower-cost outlets and could bring material to the company’s newly built materials recovery facility in Salt Lake City. A second company representative, Lee, said the company had been approached by local transfer stations and was evaluating options to reduce costs.

Council members asked operational questions the company addressed: whether multifamily housing would be included (the company said the city could decide to include or exclude HOAs and townhome complexes), how residents would opt out (phone, email or text were offered as options), what material would be accepted (plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum and tin were listed), and whether there would be fuel surcharges. “Westhaven has a very, very good agreement with Waste Management, and there is no fuel surcharge, and there is a cap of 3%, period, year over year,” Blake said.

On processing capacity and interruptions, the company said the contract assumes Wasatch Integrated as a primary outlet but that taking material elsewhere could change costs. “If we had to take it somewhere else, that is 1 element that could cause a cost increase. But, again, that would be up to you as a council,” Blake said, adding the company would notify the city if a major processor temporarily refused material.

The company also described ongoing investments in automated sorting and a pilot effort to process plastic bags and film at its Salt Lake facility; officials cautioned that the bag-processing capability remained in pilot and is not immediately available. Council members expressed interest in clear consumer communications, simple opt-out procedures if the city chooses that model, and explicit direction on whether multifamily units would be included.

The council did not vote on a contract extension or a formal program model at the meeting. Council members directed staff to continue negotiations and follow up with more detailed cost proposals and program specifics for a future council decision.