Denver's "pay as you throw" plan advances
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People may soon start paying for trash pickup in exchange for free recycling and composting services.
Why it matters: Denver residents currently don't pay for trash pickup.
Details: The rates proposed by the city would give people three options, ranging from $9 a month for a 35-gallon bin to $21 a month for a 95-gallon bin.
- Right now, recycling is free and picked up every two weeks. Composting costs $9.75 a month and is collected weekly.
Driving the news: A proposal for the new fee system was approved by a Denver City Council committee Tuesday.
- The new fees aim to improve the city's diversion rate — basically, the amount of waste that gets recycled or composted.
- They could cover recycling and composting bins for all residents.
Yes, but: Denver's current trash collection process is far from perfect.
- New trash routes started on Jan. 1, but the rollout was rocky.
- The city, which has roughly 180,000 customers, recorded 19,975 missed collection calls since Jan 1., according to agency spokesperson Nancy Kuhn.
What they're saying: "I have overwhelming opposition to this in my district," Council president Stacie Gilmore, who represents the Green Valley Ranch and Montbello neighborhoods, said about the proposal during Tuesday's meeting.
What's next: The full Denver City Council will consider the plan for a final vote, though a date is not yet set because members want to make tweaks to the final bill.