The Pocatello City Council voted Dec. 12 to approve a $4,950,000 grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) program to upgrade the city’s recycling infrastructure and implement a commercial cardboard recycling program.

Tom Kirkman, the city’s director of public services, told the council the city took over a recycling facility in August after Republic Services signaled it would close operations. He said the city acquired a baler and other infrastructure and that operating costs have fallen sharply since the city began managing the facility.

“When we took over...the first month of August, we paid $122.46 a ton to Republic Services,” Kirkman said. “The month of August we paid $4.48 a ton. The month of September we actually made money; the month of October we were at $14.53 a ton. Right now we’re at $2.22 a ton all in.”

Kirkman said the city now bails and brokers clean cardboard to a West Coast paper mill and that expanding a commercial cardboard program — including vehicles, containers and equipment — would improve operations and reduce landfill disposal.

Council Member Cheatham moved to approve the application and authorize the mayor to sign pertinent documents; Council President Lyric seconded the motion. The roll call showed the motion passed.

Council members who spoke praised staff and sanitation department employees for operational changes and cost savings. Sanitation manager Carrie Farnsworth and other staff were singled out during the discussion for their work in cleaning the facility, operating the baler and managing inbound materials.

Staff said the SWIFR grant would fully fund the project if awarded and that the city intends to use the funds to expand processing capacity, add containers and equipment and implement a commercial cardboard recycling program to serve businesses in Pocatello and surrounding communities.

The council’s approval authorizes submission only; final awards depend on EPA selection. Kirkman and staff said they will return with any required contract documents or implementation agreements if the grant is awarded.