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Councilmember Specht asked if the SCORE funding could help reduce the cost of recycling to the <br />residents. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Anderson explained that if Council were to direct him to apply all of the SCORE <br />funding towards the curbside recycling costs that the residents pay then it would not go very far <br />and would not ever provide a free month of recycling to all of the households in the City. He noted <br />there is nothing that would restrict them from using these finds for the existing program. <br /> <br />Councilmember Howell said she likes Councilmember Riley’s idea of the cardboard recycling <br />location. She noted there were questions about this to the EPB when she was on the Board. She <br />asked about the State Statute that says that residents who recycle cannot be charged more than <br />residents who do not. She asked if they were to not have a recycling contract after the current <br />contract expires if this means that people who get services through a provider directly if it would <br />be a flat rate for both trash and recycling. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Anderson explained that this statute is confusing when they are in an open hauling <br />system because the rate that is charged for recycling should be applied to every customer that is <br />subscribing to the hauler, whether or not they choose to recycle. He stated there are fluctuations <br />with this when it comes to trash hauling but the recycling portion should not be different. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove shared that her curiosity around the recycling system is not geared at <br />ACE, but more towards the big picture of where the recycling goes. She noted that recycling over <br />the last five to six years has changed dramatically on what does and does not get recycled. She <br />said she wants to make sure the SCORE funds are used wisely. She asked if they are required to <br />have a certain tonnage of recycling that changes every year. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Anderson said yes and explained that Anoka County sets the tonnage goals for each <br />municipality based on the number of households. He explained that the recycled materials go to <br />what is called a material recovery facility where all of the sorting takes place. He noted that if there <br />is contamination in any of the materials, there are thresholds that are allowed; however, if there <br />are too many contaminants in a load it can render the whole load as contaminated. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove asked if the City’s tonnage is calculated before or after it has been <br />determined to be contaminated. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Anderson said the tonnage is based on when it is collected not when it gets to the <br />facility. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove said she wants the residents and taxpayers to know that the tonnage <br />may not all be recycled if there is too much contamination. She asked if they could get data on <br />how much gets recycled and how much is contaminated. She said she would like to have these <br />numbers if they choose to continue with a City program. She stated that this could help show the <br />residents that they should not be putting contaminants in their recycling. She asked who gets the <br />taxpayer dollars and makes or loses money on this. She shared that it has been her understanding <br />over the last few years as there is not money making in recycling. She said she would like to have <br />this kind of information if it is available to know. <br />City Council Work Session / March 26, 2024 <br />Page 3 of 9 <br /> <br />