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St. Louis committee pauses alley recycling, will expand staffed drop-off network and audit accounts
Summary
The St. Louis Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee heard presentations on recycling systems in other cities and on local program problems, then the administration announced a 90-day plan that pauses alley recycling, adds at least 13 staffed drop-off sites (a 50% increase), audits accounts and pursues equipment modernization.
The St. Louis Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee on Wednesday discussed the city’s recycling program and accepted a phased plan from the mayor’s office that pauses alley recycling and expands drop-off sites while the city investigates longer-term options.
The committee’s discussion, led by Chief Operating Officer Ben Johnson and legislative staff, centered on high contamination and cost rates in local recycling streams and on ensuring access to services for residents with mobility or transportation limits.
Johnson said the city paused alley recycling after the May 31 tornado recovery work and that, under current practice, “if you have an alley blue dumpster that is, going to landfill.” He told the committee that from January through May 2025 the city’s combined recycling streams had a roughly 52% contamination rate…
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