Solid waste officials defend route changes and outline landfill timeline and composting volumes

Craig Lavoy, deputy public works director and solid waste administrator, presented the solid waste and landfill portions of the proposed budget and operations report. Lavoy said the department operates six automated weekly trash routes covering approximately 5,912 daily stops, multiple recycling routes and commercial services, and that the compost facility accepts some 40,000 green‑waste loads annually.

Lavoy said the conversion of residential pickup from five days to four has been broadly successful: missed pickups have fallen and driver satisfaction improved. He credited vehicle cameras (with timestamped footage) for dramatically lowering complaint volumes and providing evidence when residents claim missed service or damage.

On landfill capacity, Lavoy said the city is currently using cells one and two and expects cells three and four to require design and construction in roughly three to four years, with a later projection of another decade before cells five and six are required. In the meeting he referenced an estimated construction cost for cells three and four of "maybe $9–11 million." Lavoy said the department conducts a 10‑year integrated cell and waste master plan that frames fee schedules and long‑term funding.

Council members also discussed community free‑trash days funded by council contingency; staff cautioned that making free disposal permanent would create large and recurring costs and operational concerns (historic free days produced long lines and safety issues). Transfer station weekday hours (7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.) and weekend hours (7–10:30 a.m.) were explained as tied to landfill operations (daily covering and burial), which constrain later collection times.

No formal decisions were made; staff will forward fee schedule proposals and capital planning materials in coming weeks.