Riverton City Council voted to adopt a new sanitation fee structure designed to more clearly separate trash and recycling costs and to move the sanitation enterprise toward breaking even.

Council considered multiple fee scenarios after staff presented data showing the current $13 monthly charge combines both garbage and recycling pickup. Under the option the council approved (referred to in staff materials as "estimate 2"), the first garbage pickup would be set at $10 per month and the first recycle tote at $5 per month (a combined $15), additional garbage cans would be $9 each and additional recycling $7. The council recorded its support for that scenario in a formal motion and roll-call vote.

Council members cited several drivers behind the change: a planned Trans-Jordan landfill tipping fee increase that staff said is projected at $2 per ton in the coming years; anticipated construction of an East Side transfer station; and long-term pressure on the sanitation enterprise fund. Staff also noted the city's curbside recycling contract runs through June 30, 2028, and any earlier change would require rebidding the contract.

Several council members advocated keeping curbside recycling but making the fee structure more transparent so residents could see the separate cost for recycling. At least one councilmember reiterated a long-standing proposal to phase out curbside recycling in favor of regional drop-off locations; council did not adopt that option.

Other discussion points included the probability of some households cancelling service if costs rise and how cancellations could affect the fund balance. Staff warned that the revised fee structure could cause some households to opt out and that the city should track cancellation requests if recycling were split out on bills.

Council directed staff to prepare notice and ordinance language for the upcoming fee-schedule public hearing; staff will also prepare comparative scenarios requested by council (for example, a $2 across-the-board increase and a tiered structure) for the next meeting. The motion to adopt estimate 2 passed by roll call (result recorded by council).

Ending: Staff will post the new fee schedule proposal for the upcoming public hearing and track resident responses and opt-out requests if the recycling fee is shown separately on bills.