Republic Services presents growth, recycling challenges as Santaquin adds homes

Republic Services representative Mark Sherwood told the Santaquin City Council during a Feb. 18 work session that the company’s South Utah County service saw large year-over-year growth and continued pressure on recycling markets.

“We did almost 400,000 carts last year,” Republic Services representative Mark Sherwood said, describing the company’s annual counts of service stops and carts handled in the Santaquin service area.

The presentation and follow-up discussion focused on three issues that affect residents: rapid housing growth, a weaker market for recyclable commodities and service constraints in narrow or steep new developments. City staff and council members asked questions about future contract timing, operational limits and options to reduce neighborhood service problems.

Why it matters: rising residential development increases pickup volume and requires more trucks and drivers; at the same time recycling revenue that once offset costs has declined, shifting costs back to municipalities or customers.

Sherwood and city staff offered specific figures and operational details. Republic…