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O'Fallon recycling participation jumps after single‑stream switch; program expands accepted items
Summary
City recycling participation rose from about 8% to 48% since returning to single‑stream collection, with recovered tonnage up from roughly 100 to about 400 tons per month; staff cited contamination controls, truck cameras and upcoming postcards to educate residents about new acceptable items such as polypropylene cups.
Jim Wenzara, presenting for Environmental Services, told the advisory committee that O'Fallon's recycling collection has shown marked improvement since the city returned to single‑stream service in partnership with the City of St. Peters.
"We were doing about 8 percent of our City residents participating in recycling back in early '25," Wenzara said, "and currently we are at about 48 percent participation." He said monthly recyclables recovered rose from roughly 100 tons to about 400 tons, which reduces trash tonnage and helps the program's budget.
Wenzara acknowledged contamination remains a concern but said rates are low and that the city uses both outreach and technology to address it. The city is mailing postcards to households to explain accepted materials; Wenzara said the next mailing will promote acceptance of polypropylene restaurant and clear plastic cups (including many disposable fast‑food cups) under the program's expanded guidelines.
To enforce contamination rules and improve collection accuracy, Wenzara said each collection truck is equipped with seven cameras, including a hopper view, and drivers or customer service staff contact residents when crews observe prohibited materials. For items such as residential Styrofoam, Wenzara said those materials placed in the regular trash are sent to the landfill because residential markets for Styrofoam are limited.
Committee members asked practical questions — for example, Mary Laulo asked whether bottle caps should stay on bottles; Wenzara said caps may be left on. Other members asked about black plastic; Wenzara said processors do not prefer it, but crews are not currently telling residents not to put it in carts because processors sometimes find a use for it.
Wenzara said the partnership with the recycler and grant funding has supported outreach mailings and that the city plans additional education to maintain participation gains.
