Council receives update on recycling and MRF damage; staff estimates $2.5M building rebuild and RRT study due in October

City staff briefed the Columbia City Council on Aug. 18 about the material-recovery facility (MRF) and curbside recycling after recent facility damage. Staff said debris removal at the MRF is complete, equipment can operate with a generator for testing, but permanent electric service and some repairs are needed before full operations resume. A consultant report on long-term options is due in October.

Why it matters: The MRF handles residential recycling, and the facility outage has forced fiber and some materials to the landfill; restoring baling and sorting capability would help the city recover recyclable materials, reduce landfill volume and recapture commodity value.

Key points from staff - Mixed containers (plastic and metal bottles/cans) are being routed to a private processor in Normal, Illinois; that firm bails mixed containers and pays a rebate after transportation and bailing fees are deducted. Staff asked residents not to place glass and certain plastics in curbside recycling because those items can have a negative commodity value and contaminate bales. - Debris removal is complete at the MRF and staff successfully tested equipment with a generator; staff still must restore permanent electric service (including a transformer), repair electrical panels and fix safety items such as railings before regular operations can resume. - Staff estimated a roughly $2.5 million cost to construct a pre-engineered metal building over the existing sorting footprint (foundations, structure, a small office and a break room) and said insurance proceeds should cover most of the cost; design and construction would take roughly a year using a design-build approach. - A consultant (RRT) is preparing a report comparing capital and operating costs for rebuilding the MRF versus using a transfer-station/haul model; that report is expected in October and will inform a capital decision.

Interim operations Until a baler and building are available, residential curbside fiber continues to be routed to the landfill. Staff said recovering and baling fiber is a priority because baled fiber is easier to transport and can improve commodity recovery.

Ending note: Council members asked staff to explore options, including potential staffed drop-off or pilot programs for specific recyclable materials, and to report back after receiving the RRT study.