Tacoma, Washington, removes glass from curbside program

The Tacoma, Washington, City Council has passed an ordinance that will make changes to the city’s residential curbside collection program, including a $2.82 per month recycling surcharge for all residential recycling customers. The surcharge will go into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Most of the surcharge, about $2.32, will cover the increased processing costs, marketing and shipping of recyclables due to global recycling industry changes. This portion of the surcharge is set to be reexamined in December 2022. The remainder of the surcharge will be used to fund increased education and outreach for the city’s residential curbside recycling program through Dec. 31, 2023.

The changes to the city’s program also include the decision to stop curbside glass collection. Instead, the city will be adding five glass drop-off stations throughout the city to provide a collection venue for the material. The city will continue to collect glass through its curbside collection program until the five drop-off sites are officially opened, which is expected by early 2020. The city has also removed shredded paper and plastic bags from the curbside program.

In announcing the change, Lewis Griffith, Tacoma’s solid waste management division manager, says, “The global recycling industry has changed dramatically since China greatly reduced its recycling imports in 2018. The recycling program changes accepted by city council were selected after extensive community input as well as evaluating the best strategies to keep our local recycling programs sustainable. As these changes get underway, solid waste management will continue to monitor how they are affecting our customers and our programs.”