Committee recommends closing city recycling center; staff to send battery-education materials with tax bills

The Public Works / Streets / Recycling Committee on Oct. 28 recommended that the city recycling center be closed effective Dec. 20, 2025, after members said the center’s current employee will not return next year. The motion was moved by Barb Schmidtknecht and seconded by David Endres, and the committee recorded that the motion carried.

Committee members discussed short-term options for residents following closure, noting residents may use the County recycling center in Cochrane. Chair Peter Schaīner said the city is only beginning the formal review of street closings and related public-notice steps, and members emphasized that the public will be kept informed about next steps for recycling services.

Separately, the committee reviewed changes required by the state Department of Natural Resources that increase public-education duties for recycling programs. Members agreed to send the state-provided battery-disposal education materials to residents with the upcoming tax bills rather than creating new materials in-house. Gill Adams was assigned to coordinate distribution with city staff.

The committee also discussed the possibility of scheduling large-item recycling pickup on an as-needed basis and directed staff to consider options and return recommendations at a future meeting.

The committee’s recommendation to close the recycling center now moves to the City Council for final action. At the time of the meeting, the committee did not provide a council vote tally; the recommendation reflects the committee’s vote to forward the closure for council consideration.