Recology reports improved service metrics, lower residential recycling charge to Mercer Island board

Recology King County told the Mercer Island Utility Board on Jan. 14 that customer satisfaction improved in 2024 and that the city is closing in on a 70% waste‑diversion target set in the climate action plan.

Alyssa Campbell, government and community relations manager at Recology King County, said, “In 2024, the city of Mercer Island had an average customer satisfaction score of 4.6 out of 5.” Campbell presented the company’s annual report and answered board questions about rates, contamination in the recycling stream and outreach efforts.

The report said a fixed annual charge (FAC) implemented by King County in 2024 continued into 2025 and that Recology opted to show the FAC as a separate line item on customer invoices. Recology reported a $1.34 decrease to residential recycling charges and an $0.85 decrease for multifamily recycling customers for the 2025 cycle. Campbell said the FAC and recycling adjustments are informed by annual waste characterizations and commodity prices.

Campbell outlined other rate elements: the city caps its automatic consumer price index adjustment at 5 percent; the CPI change used for 2025 was 4.18 percent. Recology also reported that the county disposal rate increased and that Recology is using a per‑ton figure of about $165.10 in its calculations for the most recent cycle.

Board…