City recommends renewing solid‑waste contract; recycling remains elusive

Staff recommended the council renew the city’s solid‑waste contract with City Sanitation and not move to a different provider. The recommendation cited lower cost compared with providers equipped to supply residential carts or dumpsters and City Sanitation’s local presence and community investment. Staff said the contract renewal assumes an annual escalation in the contractor’s charge, which the city will temporarily absorb rather than immediately pass on to residents. The budget assumes no immediate increase to residential customers for solid waste collection. On recycling, staff explained the broader industry disruption that began when China tightened standards for imported recycled material around 2016–2017. That policy change removed the primary export market for much U.S. recyclate, leaving many processors with warehouse inventories and reducing local recycling markets. As a result, local recycling programs currently often cost more and may still end up in landfills unless a viable end‑market or a new processing firm can be engaged. Staff said the city is discussing options with City Sanitation, including exploring a viable recycling solution and creating a quarterly or permanent bulk‑item convenience station where residents can drop large items for free (the city currently provides quarterly curbside collection events).