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Council hears first budget for new Department of Waste Services; $59 million operating request funds staffing, safety and routing technology
Summary
Tracy Thurman, director of the newly formed Department of Waste Services, presented a $59 million operating budget request to stand up the department, expand frontline staffing, add safety gear and route-optimization technology, and insource routes; the department highlighted recycling setout and contamination rates and a food-composting pilot.
Tracy Thurman, director of the newly established Metro Department of Waste Services, presented the department’s first standalone operating budget and outlined steps to expand staffing, safety equipment and routing technology after a period of instability under a private contractor. “This is a significant moment,” Thurman said, adding that 83% of services had been provided by a contract vendor that later went bankrupt and that Metro ramped up in-house operations to restore service.
The department’s proposed operating budget for 2026 is roughly $59,000,000, a $3,600,000 (about 7%) increase over the prior year’s budget, Thurman said. She described priorities funded in the request: increased uniform and personal-protective-equipment allowances, new communications equipment so drivers can reach supervisors while on routes, a planned on-site mechanic for faster fleet maintenance, and route-optimization and telematics technology.
Thurman said the budget provides for an initial phase of new positions to build the department,…
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