Sisters weighs future of city-owned recycling center as state law and costs reshape services

Jordan told the joint workshop that the Sisters recycling center is a city-owned legacy facility used heavily by surrounding county residents and that the county has subsidized its operation by about $40,000 annually. "It's actually a city owned property... the county has been subsidizing helping subsidize the recycling center about 40,000 per year," Jordan said, and noted the city has been surveying residents on service preferences.

Tim Brownell, director of Deschutes County solid waste, explained state law requires universal recycling service (not subscription) for distant-rural areas and described Republic Services'proposal for commingled curbside service: "Their proposal is to have that service offered at $6 a household per month additional... every other week collection," Brownell said. Brownell and city staff discussed options for glass collection: the county's proposed rural service would not include glass, while Sisters could offer glass curbside to city customers at about $4/month.

Councilors and commissioners raised operational and financial trade-offs. Officials noted contamination and illegal dumping at the drop-off site and said Republic Services is contracted to service and monitor the facility. Jordan said the city could explore expanding the Sisters site to accept more material under the Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) pro-depot program but that doing so would likely require additional staffing and security and could change the city's subsidy needs. Several attendees urged regional coordination on franchise agreements and possible renegotiation with the current contractor.