City Of Golden Valley: Recycling And Organics Contract Negotiations Nearing Completion

Press release from the City of Golden Valley:

September 22, 2021

In preparation for the Hennepin County mandated roll out of organics recycling, the City is finalizing a service provider contract for both curbside recycling and organics.

Background

Organics recycling is the collection of food scraps, non-recyclable paper, and other compostable products. By diverting these products to a commercial compost facility, they can be recycled into nutrient-rich soil instead of ending up in a landfill. Hennepin County is requiring all cities with more than 10,000 residents to make curbside organics recycling available Jan 1, 2022.

After multiple studies, open houses, and public input opportunities by the City and its Environmental Commission, the Golden Valley City Council voted to move forward with a City Contract All-In method of organics recycling. This means the City chooses one service provider for all residents living in single-family through fourplex households. This method offers the lowest costs to residents and has the highest opportunity for participation compared with other options the City explored.

Changes On The Horizon

Along with a getting a new recycling cart and having a new way to dispose of food scraps and other compostable products, another change residents will to see in 2021 is an increased quarterly bill.

Currently, the recycling portion of the quarterly City utility bill includes curbside recycling service and annual waste and recycling programs like Mighty Tidy Day, Spring Brush Pick-Up, and Fall Leaf Drop-Off. The addition of organics recycling, coupled with changes in the global recycling market and associated influences from the COVID-19 pandemic, will translate to an increase in the quarterly utility bill.

Moving Forward

Specific details, like collection days and prices of the new curbside recycling and organics programs, were still unknown as of the print date of this newsletter. The City Council will likely consider a contract by early October.

For more information about organics recycling and to read about the City’s community input efforts throughout this process, visit the City website.

This press release was produced by the City of Golden Valley. The views expressed here are the author’s own.