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Local hauler says state recycling changes, new funding will shift what is accepted
Summary
At a May 14 Buchanan Board of Commissioners meeting, Josh Brandt of Brandt Sanitary Service described statewide changes to recycling rules and funding that he said will change which materials are collected curbside and which will be handled at depots, with a phased rollout into 2026.
Josh Brandt of Brandt Sanitary Service told the Buchanan Board of Commissioners on May 14 that recent state-level recycling changes and new funding sources will alter what is recyclable and how communities handle certain materials.
Brandt, speaking during the meeting's public-comment period, said the state is rolling out new guidance and funding and that retailers are contributing to a fund to help collect difficult-to-recycle items. “We're going through a lot, a lot of new recycling information getting presented through the state,” Brandt said.
Brandt said the rollout will begin in July, with broader implementation expected in 2026. He said the changes include funding from large retailers to support collection of problematic materials and that some items will be handled at drop-off depots rather than curbside pickup. “It's no longer Dallas,” he said, later noting that communities such as Monmouth and Independence “each have their own programs,” meaning local collection rules will continue to vary.
He listed examples of materials that could be affected: plastic bags, Styrofoam, aluminum foil and shredded paper. Brandt said some items already accepted—he named aluminum foil and shredded paper—may become easier to manage under the new approach, while others (for example Styrofoam and plastic bags) will likely be processed at depots rather than picked up at the curb. He cautioned, however, that curbside improvements for those items are “a little bit harder for haulers to do.”
Brandt also said costs to haulers are rising because of landfill and transportation expenses, but he expressed optimism about the state-led changes: “I think it's going to take time... I feel real optimistic about the direction it's going.” He told commissioners he focuses on efficiency and customer service and that his firm serves communities countywide, including Monmouth and Independence.
The remarks were delivered as public comment; the board did not take formal action on the topic at the meeting.
