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Committee forwards Arlington Recycle Warehouse contract for mattress recycling events to consent agenda
Summary
The committee voted to forward a goods-and-services agreement with Arlington Recycle Warehouse to provide mattress recycling collection events to the March 18, 2025 consent agenda after staff described grant-funded events and options for voucher or curbside programs.
Rebecca Kovar, contract coordinator for Environmental Services in Public Works, presented a proposed goods-and-services agreement with Arlington Recycle Warehouse to run mattress collection events and other bulky-item recycling in Federal Way. Kovar said Arlington can disassemble mattresses into recyclable pieces, reducing landfill use, and is the only mattress recycler operating in the region at present.
"The agreement with Arlington Recycle Warehouse, which is not just for mattresses, but they will also collect CFC appliances or other large items as determined by the city," Kovar said. She told the committee the events are funded by grants from King County and the Department of Ecology and that grant funding would cover program costs.
Council members asked whether Waste Management's bulky-item pickup could deliver mattresses to Arlington for recycling and whether curbside collection or a voucher program (pickup at residents' homes) could be arranged. Kovar said Waste Management currently takes mattresses to the landfill and does not have a mattress-recycling pathway; Arlington has indicated interest in expanding services into south King County, and staff are exploring curbside or voucher arrangements and prearranged route days.
Kovar and committee members discussed event costs and past program volumes. Staff said a December collection event collected more than 200 mattresses from Federal Way residents. Waste Management charges the city about $35 per mattress for bulky-item pickup; Arlington charges per weight and has an arrival/attendance fee for events; staff said last event costs were modest (staff cited roughly $1,600 for the last event) and that grant funding covers program expenses.
After discussion the committee moved to forward the proposed agreement with Arlington Recycle Warehouse to the March 18, 2025 consent agenda for council approval. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Staff will bring the final contract to the consent agenda and continue exploring voucher and curbside options with Arlington.
Ending: The committee accepted staff recommendations and forwarded the contract for the consent agenda; staff will continue to pursue options to expand accessibility for residents without vehicles.
