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Resident urges Redmond to test weighing curbside refuse in "Smart Disposal" pilot
Summary
A resident asked the council to consider a proof-of-concept study to weigh residential curbside trash at pickup to enable usage-based billing and individualized diversion feedback; he estimated a pilot at about $50,000.
Paul Quinn, a Sammamish resident, urged the Redmond City Council on March 4 to undertake a proof-of-concept study for a "Smart Disposal" program that would weigh residential refuse at the curb and provide mailed feedback to households to encourage recycling and composting.
Quinn said current charges are based on container size rather than actual waste quantity and argued the system does not reward residents who sort recyclables or compost. He described the Smart Disposal approach: weigh containers at each pickup, then mail postcard reports showing landfill-diversion rates and comparisons with neighbors. Quinn provided several handouts to council members and estimated a proof-of-concept cost of about $50,000, which he said could be shared with neighboring jurisdictions.
Quinn recommended the city study whether weighing containers can be done accurately and efficiently without extra work for haulers and asked the council to pursue a feasibility test. The council did not take action during the meeting; the proposal was recorded as public comment for consideration by staff or committees.
