Council hears survey results on recycling; staff to return with details

Staff and council discussed a community poll (about 60 respondents) on proposed changes to the residential recycling program. Speaker 7 summarized the results: roughly two-thirds preferred a lower-cost service and about half of those surveyed said they might drop recycling if rates increased.

Councilmembers debated whether increased rates could push residents to opt out and stressed the need to balance budget realities with maintaining participation. Several members asked staff for additional detail and data collection before any rate changes. Staff said the item is to provide direction and that they would return with more analysis and possible implementation timelines.

No formal action was taken; staff will follow up with more granular data on expected participation changes and cost-impact analyses.