Fall recycling events drew hundreds; staff proposes more, smaller electronics drop-offs in 2025

District staff reported turnout and volumes from recent fall recycling events and proposed a schedule change for 2025 to cut wait times.

Staff said the Sept. 7 tox-away day included collection of household hazardous waste and tires, with 900 vehicles participating, 22 tons of hazardous waste collected and 1,005 tires taken. For the year to date, staff reported 52 tons of total hazardous waste collected and a total hazardous-waste-related cost of $103,586.

The electronics recycling event on Sept. 28 at the Civic Center parking lot collected what staff reported as 67,088 pounds at that event and a year-to-date total of 140,456 pounds of electronics; staff reported electronics recycling costs of about $44,009.65. Vendors noted long wait times at the large fall event (drop-off lines up to about 40 minutes) and CNI Electronics proposed holding multiple smaller electronics collections in 2025 (for example, one event in summer, early fall and late fall) to spread demand and reduce lines.

Board members discussed equity of locations and said they had heard constituent complaints about the location and wait times. Staff said cost is typically paid by pound and that shifting to smaller events should be a similar per-pound cost, though totals could vary depending on participation. Staff said they would report back with proposed sites and any cost implications.

The board accepted the report; no formal vote was required on the scheduling proposal at this meeting.

Ending note: Staff recommended further planning for 2025; board members asked staff to keep them posted.