Commissioners on the Sammamish City Sustainability Commission said a recent tour of a Republic Services recycling-sorting facility left them better informed about what the plant can process — and concerned that public-facing guidance may be inconsistent.

"I left feeling very, empowered ... they will take almost anything," Commissioner Christy said after the tour. Her takeaway — echoed by several other commissioners — was tempered by reports from community members that Republic’s public materials and on-site guidance differ: "At Earth Day I was told you can't do the clamshell," she said, referring to clear plastic food containers. "I was told they would take everything," Christy added, prompting calls for clarification.

City sustainability staff said the content published in the city newsletter was prepared well ahead of events and relies on Republic’s public guidance. "Our newsletter is typically finalized about a month and a half to two months in advance," staff member Rose explained. She added that the city’s outreach often leans toward conservative advice to reduce contamination, while a sorting facility’s in-process capabilities may handle more items.

Commissioners pressed for practical next steps. They suggested Republic produce a dedicated handout or flyer commissioners can use when they speak to schools, HOA meetings and at community events; staff agreed to pursue that and to coordinate with Republic’s communications team. The commission also flagged Earth Day and the upcoming Frosty Fest as opportunities to present unified guidance and to pilot simple messaging for families and school green teams.

Discussion at the meeting emphasized two consistent points: recycling systems are technologically advanced but still sensitive to contamination, and inconsistent messages undermine ambassadors’ outreach. Several commissioners noted that even where facilities can sort more materials, the industry guidance often urges caution to avoid jams or increased processing costs.

Next steps: staff will follow up with Republic Services for an official, up-to-date list of acceptable items and explore producing a city-facing flyer. The commission will use that material at upcoming community events and incorporate clarified guidance into school outreach.