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Sanitation division maintains 32–35% diversion amid route modernization challenges; rate study planned
Summary
Sanitation officials reported a 32–35% diversion rate for recycling, yard waste and appliance programs and said a planned rate study will examine fees to better cover program costs. Staff described progress modernizing equipment and routes but said vendor software for cart tracking has not performed as promised.
Lazarus Sears, director of Sanitation, joined Director Adam Wason in presenting the Department of Public Works’ sanitation divisional budget to the council on Aug. 25. The division provides curbside refuse and recycling collection, large‑item pickup, yard‑waste collection and service for city facilities.
Officials told council the city maintains a roughly 32–35% diversion rate — the portion of waste kept out of landfill through recycling, appliance collection and green‑waste programs. Wason and Sears said the modernization program begun in 2017 reduced injuries and improved collection efficiency, but the division still faces operational pressures: maintenance costs for heavy collection trucks are high, and software vendors that promised automated cart‑tracking capabilities did not meet expectations, forcing the city to develop in‑house tracking solutions with ITS.
Sanitation staff said they will continue worker‑safety initiatives, pursue route efficiencies with ITS and begin a rate study to better align user fees with the full cost of service. The 2026 budget shows a decrease in capital spending because two replacement trucks were ordered in 2025; a planned interfund transfer and possible future rate adjustments will be subject to council review.
No vote was taken; staff said they will return to council with rate‑study results and any proposed fee changes.
