Solid Waste advisory panel reports $100,000 recycling fund, urges council to watch landfill costs and recycling changes

Steve Corey, chair of the Solid Waste Advisory Commission, told the Gregory City Council on April 1 that the commission’s community recycling fund balance is roughly $100,000 and that commissioners are refining a plan for how to use those funds.

The update matters because SWAC members said two developments could affect residents’ costs and city services: potential changes in landfill operations that could alter service costs, and recent upgrades at the city’s recycling facility that may change the volume and composition of materials collected.

Corey summarized SWAC activity and monitoring priorities, saying the commission is watching “supplemental services” such as subscription-based glass and yard‑waste pickup to determine whether they should be folded into basic services. He said the CRFP “balance is roughly a hundred thousand dollars” and that commissioners are working to finalize procedures for awarding grants or otherwise deploying the funds.

Corey thanked Republic Services and Timber Creek for help with the commission’s outreach events and noted SWAC’s participation in county advisory meetings. “We monitor waste and recycling, CRFP management, outreach and monitoring flow rates of waste and recyclable materials,” he said.

Republic Services representative Rochelle Klein described how residents can donate bicycles after the commission’s Recycle-a-Bicycle event. “If you go into the transfer station, there’s a big bicycle drop site right there,” Klein said. “But, also, if you don’t have a big car, we go pick them up. I shuttle bikes…probably 6 to 8 bikes a week.” Corey and council members thanked Republic Services for operating pickups and collection events.

Council members asked questions about several topics. Councilman Sher urged staff and Republic Services to reduce friction for residents who subscribe to supplemental services, noting that separate billing can discourage sign-ups: “There’s a little bit of friction trying to do that,” he said. Corey said subscription growth for glass and yard‑waste has not yet reached a “tipping point” where SWAC would recommend folding them into basic service.

Council members also asked about the household hazardous waste program and landfill lifespan. Corey said the household hazardous waste program is back at the Meridian Transfer Station and is operating at its usual location and hours, with staff offloading materials from vehicles for residents. On landfill life, Corey said that when the county landfill opened in the early 2000s it was expected to have a 100‑year life, but growth and operational practices moved the expected fill date forward; current public statements estimate about 30 years of capacity remaining. He added that new management is pursuing operational changes that could add “another 5 to 15 years” of life.

Corey recommended the council monitor the landfill’s cost projections and any rate review the county publishes. He also said it will take several months of post‑reopening data to measure the effect of recent recycling‑center equipment and policy changes: the center reopened about a week before the meeting and staff are “working through the backlog,” he said.

No formal council action was required or taken on the commission’s update. SWAC said it will finalize proposed procedures for the community recycling fund and return with recommendations, and Republic Services will continue to provide drop‑off and pickup services for donated bicycles and other outreach programs.