TITLE
Consider an ordinance repealing Chapter 24, Article II, Division 4, Section 24-87 of the Killeen Code of Ordinances dissolving residential curbside recycling service and amending Chapter 24, Article II, Division 6, Recycling rates.
SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM
Ordinance dissolving residential curbside recycling service
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
Public Works / Solid Waste Division
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In May 2002, the City of Killeen initiated a curbside recycling collection program. The City originally took the program over from Harvest Recyclers, which operated the program from 2000-2002. Initially, when the City's Solid Waste Division took over the program, it was designed as a pilot program staged with one employee. As the pilot program grew over the years, additional employees were added to manage the workload. Currently, there are 2,804 subscription-based customers with collection days and customers served as follows: 835 on Monday, 735 on Tuesday, 589 on Thursday, and 645 on Friday. Due to the growth of City subscribers, the expansion of the City, and in order to continue to provide a high level of service, the Solid Waste curbside recycling subscription service collection and processing team has expanded to include four employees.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
As discussed with City Council on July 12, 2016, the City's adopted Solid Waste Master Plan recommends dissolving residential curbside collection of recyclable materials because it is not cost effective. It costs the City more to provide the service than the City recovers in revenue. Based on SCS Engineers' rate model calculations, elimination of the curbside service is projected to save the City approximately $279,045 per year. Options were also discussed on July 12, 2016, that included the following: 1) continue to allow general residential rates to subsidize the program; 2) charge the actual cost of the service to the customers using the service; 3) eliminate the curbs...
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