FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Fayetteville City Council on July 15 accepted a consultant study recommending the city move from curb‑sort recycling to a weekly, cart‑based single‑stream system and adopt a five‑year rate plan tied to that transition.

Environmental director Peter Nierengarten told the council the study by Raftelius Consultants modeled several options and that staff’s preferred recommendation is an “all‑in‑one cart‑based weekly recycling program.” He said the program would double curbside recyclables collected over time, expand service to multifamily and commercial customers and reduce worker injuries tied to curb‑side sorting. Nierengarten said the proposed five‑year implementation would require a 9.5% rate increase in 2026 and a 7.5% increase in 2027, with a total five‑year increase of about 30.1% if the city fully implements the cart program; he said maintaining the status quo would require larger increases later.

The nut graph: Council accepted the study — a formal step that does not itself change fees — while some council members and many residents called for more data, especially local contamination rates and processing costs, and for clarity on capital timing and worker impacts before voting to adopt the rate ordinance that would fund the switch.

Study findings and staff plan

Nierengarten summarized the financial analysis: the city projects operating savings because cart‑based collection is far cheaper per ton to collect and process than curb‑sort. He estimated capital transition costs of about $2.1 million for carts and six new trucks, and said the division holds roughly $6.4 million in reserves that could fund the rollout. He added the city applied for a U.S. EPA grant for $5 million and is pursuing additional grant opportunities to reduce the capital burden.

On contamination, the study reviewed peer cities with single‑stream programs; projected contamination rates in peer examples varied. Nierengarten said Fayetteville’s pilot in 2016 saw an 8% contamination rate and staff’s target for a full program is about 10%. To reduce contamination, staff proposed layered education (English/Spanish outreach and cart lid labeling) and use of “anti‑contamination” camera software on trucks that captures images of cart contents, geolocates problem loads and triggers targeted education postcards to residents.

Public comment and council questions

More than a dozen residents spoke. Supporters said cart collection increases convenience and participation, particularly for multifamily residents who now have limited options; several said they had experience with single‑stream elsewhere and it increased recycling. Opponents warned single‑stream reduces material quality and raises contamination that can make loads unrecyclable; they urged continued curb‑sort, expanded drop‑off options and more public engagement. Several speakers urged the council to obtain operational data from nearby jurisdictions that already use cart‑based recycling.

Council members pressed staff on several points: expected contamination rates and local peer data, the cost and timing of truck purchases (staff warned manufacturers have signaled price increases in August), how glass and large cardboard would be handled, whether commercial and multifamily customers could be served equitably, and health and safety impacts on recycling crews. Nierengarten said the city will continue curbside glass collection where needed, that cardboard can be placed in carts or set beside them if oversized, and that a vendor RFP for processing commingled recyclables would include specific answers about glass and other commodities.

Outcome and next steps

The council voted to accept and adopt the study (resolution), but did not approve the ordinance that would raise the recycling and trash user fee (first‑reading ordinance left on the first reading). Several council members asked staff for additional vetted data from peer cities — particularly contamination and processing costs — and for clarity on truck pricing before the council considers the fee ordinance at a future meeting. Nierengarten said staff will continue outreach, pursue grant funding and return with vendor RFP results and more detailed contamination and cost projections.

Ending

The study acceptance puts Fayetteville on record supporting a transition pathway; the financial ordinance and capital purchases remain subject to later council votes after staff brings back the additional data requested by council and residents.