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Committee approves $8.2 million pilot to test underground mechanical collection for recycling; funding gap noted
Summary
The Budget and Innovation Committee on July 1 approved an $8.2 million pilot to test underground mechanical collection of recyclables and waste, voting 5-0 to adopt the item with a modification.
The Budget and Innovation Committee on July 1 approved an $8.2 million pilot project to test an underground mechanical collection system for recyclables and solid waste, voting 5-0 to adopt the item with a modification.
Sanitation Department staff told the committee that $1 million from CalRecycle (listed in the presentation) is confirmed for the pilot but that roughly $2.9 million in additional non‑general funds remain unallocated. Staff said the sanitation trust fund may be eligible to cover the gap but does not currently hold sufficient balance for the full request.
“Confirmamos 1,000,000 de Calvercycling ... nos restaban 2.9 millones de dólares,” Alexander Lu, a Sanitation Department presenter, told the committee when asked about non‑general funding sources. Lu said staff are pursuing grants and private partnerships, including outreach to Olympic organizing committees, USC and other potential hosts, to secure additional support.
Staff noted a March 2026 deadline tied to implementation and SB 13 (referenced in the presentation) as part of the funding context; the $1 million from CalRecycle was described as provisional and linked to SB 13 implementation. Staff said the city could seek to reassign state funds to other SB 13‑eligible activities if the pilot does not secure the remaining funds.
Committee members asked whether the pilot would proceed if the non‑general funds are not found; staff said they are instructed to identify non‑general sources where possible and to return with alternatives. The presenter said the request before the committee was to adopt the pilot with the understanding that some external funding search is ongoing.
The committee voted, with recorded votes announced by the clerk, and the item was approved with the stated modification. The vote was reported as five in favor; no no votes or abstentions were recorded.
The pilot aims to test a European‑style underground mechanical collection technology in city locations, with the Sanitation Department indicating it would coordinate potential grant and private funding sources and return to the committee if additional reallocations or approvals are needed.
Sources and attribution: presentation and discussion by Alexander Lu, Sanitation Department; committee vote recorded by the committee clerk.
