City says downtown glass and cardboard drop site will close; staff cite permit and market constraints

A longtime downtown recycling drop site that accepted glass and cardboard will be closed after the winter holidays and is not being relocated to an equivalent downtown location, Public Works Director Mark Russell told the Olympia City Council on Oct. 21.

The announcement followed a public comment from resident Larry Chezza, who said city communication about the closure had been poor and urged the city to lease or buy a site to continue recycling services downtown. “The city did not do a good job communicating this removal of service from the public,” Chezza said, adding that many users reacted with surprise and disappointment when he raised the issue.

Chezza noted the city manager had previously told the council, at the meeting approving sale of the Plum Street property, that programs and services on the site would be relocated during the 18-month leaseback period. Mayor and staff confirmed the city now faces an 18-month window to clear the property after the sale to the Squaxin Island Tribe; staff said deeper site, permitting and market constraints have affected…