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Solid‑waste director says new sorting technology will change what Spokane accepts for recycling
Summary
Solid Waste Director Trace Braver said Waste Management’s NEAR infrared investment makes it possible to process additional items; the city will remove or change acceptance for some paper and plastic categories and roll out new marketing materials for residents.
The committee received an update on changes to Spokane’s recycling stream from the city’s Solid Waste Director, Trace Braver.
Braver said changes reflect Waste Management’s recent $18 million investment in NEAR (near‑infrared) sorting technology that better identifies resin types and allows the system to divert harder‑to‑recycle plastics to end producers. The items noted in the update include #1 PET plastics (plastic cups), #5 polypropylene (yogurt‑style containers and similar plastics) and single‑use paper cups with polyethylene linings. The city will update online materials and provide new marketing and stickers to communicate accepted items to residents.
Braver said Spokane contributes a large share of volume to regional processing and that the local system’s participation contributed toward Waste Management’s investment. He said the operational change does not immediately change the municipal code language about plastics; rather it reflects new market and processor capabilities and the city’s outreach effort. Council members asked for clearer labeling and for additional public marketing materials; Braver said a website update and billing materials will show the changes and that staff will coordinate outreach.
No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; staff said the changes are already in effect operationally and that new outreach materials will be distributed.
