Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Waste Management reports 50.7% diversion for Normandy Park in 2025; contractor, city plan further outreach
Summary
Waste Management told the council that Normandy Park’s residential and citywide diversion rates rose in 2025, with 4,404 tons collected and a 50.7% diversion rate; WM and city officials outlined outreach, multifamily engagement and plans to boost recycling performance.
Waste Management officials presented the company’s 2025 Normandy Park annual report at the April 14 meeting, saying WM collected 4,404 tons of the city’s waste materials last year and achieved a 50.7% diversion rate — up from 49.2% in 2024.
Joe Camaro, WM’s public sector services manager and the company’s city contact, described the contract (a 10-year agreement in place since 2018 with three amendments) and noted WM provides residential, multifamily and business collection, billing and customer service. Camaro said WM will continue to partner with the city and highlighted 2025 outreach and service items.
Rob Rutledge, WM’s senior district manager, said WM serves about 2,100 customers in Normandy Park and described 2025 program highlights: 35 residents used a free bulky-item curbside pickup program, storm-event collections helped more than 100 customers, and the WM call center reduced average answer time to about 23 seconds. Rutledge also said WM’s municipal contract has been extended through 2030.
WM reported diversion details: overall diversion was 50.7% (a 1.5 percentage-point increase over 2024); residential diversion was cited at roughly 60.5%, while multifamily properties diverted around 14%. WM staff said residual contamination at regional processing facilities varies by load and estimated residual (nonrecyclable material in the blue bin) may range roughly 10–20% depending on the inbound loads; WM emphasized education and outreach to address that.
Katie Retmyer, WM outreach coordinator (listed as an outreach coordinator with the city during her remarks), summarized community engagement efforts in 2025: six community events supported outreach, WM distributed more than 30 compost bins at events, hosted three reuse-exchange events and conducted 37 multifamily site visits via WM interns to support better recycling practices.
Council members praised the program and asked follow-up questions about the composition and accuracy of recycling loads; WM staff said education is the primary tool and noted potential enforcement options if the city seeks them. WM and city staff said they will continue multifamily outreach in 2026 to raise diversion rates at apartment and multifamily properties.
The presentation closed with WM offering to meet individually with councilmembers and staff about new ideas for improving service and diversion.
