Agenda - Council - 04/09/2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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