County recycling staff told the Community Development Committee on Nov. 20 that participation and tonnage in 2024–25 rose sharply after the county shifted to free electronics and appliance collection events and launched a year‑round hazardous‑waste voucher program with Logistics Recycling in Somerset.

The program is funded primarily through a DNR recycling grant and a DATCP grant for hazardous waste; county property tax funding covers a portion of hazardous‑waste activities. Staff said the voucher program — which accepts hazardous materials and lithium‑ion batteries at a Somerset facility by appointment — has increased convenience for residents and reduced mobilization costs associated with on‑site events.

Staff reviewed 2025 experiments including free appliance/scrap metal events (partnering with a local salvage recycler) and a one‑time upholstered‑furniture collection (40 participants, 83 units collected) subsidized by the county. The county also ran two free tire collection events; tire turnout in 2025 exceeded budget estimates and raised the cost of that program to about $35,000 for the year, requiring use of hazardous‑waste funds to cover the overage.

For 2026, staff proposed options: continue costly annual tire collections, shift to alternate‑year tire events, or require a modest resident co‑pay; continue subsidizing the Town of Richmond’s year‑round tire drop‑off (about $1,300 subsidy in 2025); expand year‑round electronics and appliance drop‑off through Redemption Recycling in Somerset (no‑charge drop‑off); and repeat the upholstered‑furniture pilot if the committee sees value. Staff asked for committee direction on tire subsidies and the furniture pilot.

Committee members favored maintaining tire options because ditch‑dumped tires are environmentally damaging and suggested exploring a modest co‑pay while keeping annual accessibility; members also supported continuing the Somerset partnership and the hazardous‑waste voucher program.

Staff will return with refined budgets and a recommended plan for 2026 that balances resident convenience, environmental benefit and fiscal constraints.