Mount Vernon moves toward new waste-hauler licenses and recycling reporting requirements

Council members gave a second reading to proposed changes that would require waste-hauler licenses, separate recycling permits, annual reporting on tonnage and transfer-station destinations, and secure-hauling practices intended to stop debris and illegal disposal.

Councilman Rekman (Utilities Commission liaison) said the draft ordinance follows months of work with the utilities commission, regional partners and operators. "We talked to DKMM," he said, referring to the regional solid-waste body that advised the city; "they recommended this as well. They support this, and particularly the recycling portion."

The ordinance would require any person or entity collecting, transporting or disposing of solid waste or recyclable materials within city limits to hold a waste-hauler license issued by the code enforcement department. It would also require a separate recycling permit and explicit annual reports listing tonnage and the approved disposal and recycling facilities used.

Council members and staff said the changes respond to several problems: haulers failing to provide consistent annual reports, instances in which loads were reportedly taken to unauthorized transfer locations and, in at least one local case mentioned in the meeting, illegal disposal and burning at a private site flagged by regional partners. "We do not want to do business with somebody who's burning your trash out in the woods," one council speaker said.

The ordinance would also state that curbside recycling for single-family dwellings must be offered at no additional cost, consistent with past council direction; it does not change commercial or multi-unit recycling requirements under the existing zoning code. Staff said secure-hauling standards are designed to stop blowing debris and to require obvious documentation from transfer stations — weight slips and other records — so the city can verify where material is processed and recorded for state and DKMM reimbursement programs.

Council members asked about enforcement mechanics and whether the new reporting is duplicative of state or regional reporting. Staff said much of the data should already be gathered by haulers for EPA or DKMM reporting, but that the local ordinance will clarify content and timing to make it enforceable locally.

What’s next: Ordinance 2025-21 had a second reading; council did not suspend rules for final passage. Rekman asked whether to schedule another committee review; council left it at second reading for now.

Why it matters: The measure would tighten local oversight of private waste haulers operating in Mount Vernon and aim to level the market by ensuring all haulers follow the same reporting and disposal rules.