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Council declines citywide recycling program this budget year, cites market and contamination issues
Summary
Staff told the council the city will not add a citywide recycling program in the coming budget year citing structural issues in the recycling industry and contamination of materials; Walmart has proposed placing bins at its site but the city is not pursuing a broad program now.
During the solid-waste discussion, staff explained the contract for city solid-waste services is treated as a contract line item and that the provider has requested a rate adjustment tied to inflation. Presenter said the city has historically used a 4% franchise from commercial revenue to protect residential customers from increases. "We are not currently looking to put any recycle programs within this budget year," the Presenter said, and explained two principal reasons: (1) the recycling market still faces structural issues since China exited the market and much collected recyclable material has ended up landfilled, and (2) contamination of drop-off bins would require manned locations and staff the city does not currently have.
Council discussed local options such as private businesses hosting bins (Walmart submitted a request to place bins in its lot), but no change to citywide service or funding was directed at the workshop.
