Denton city staffers today are expected to recommend requiring apartment complexes to offer onsite recycling for their tenants.
The issue is one of several the City Council will discuss during a meeting at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney St. No votes are scheduled.
Currently, apartment managers and owners can decide whether to provide onsite recycling, and only five of the city’s 394 multifamily properties offer the service, according to information provided to the council. City staffers are considering requiring recycling at apartments to help divert more waste from the landfill.
“This plan should be developed carefully with input from stakeholders, and within a framework plan for increasing all diversion programs to reach the city of Denton’s waste diversion goals in the strategic plan and the sustainability plan,” said Vance Kemler, solid waste manager, in a written report to the council. “This plan should also reflect the city’s goals for addressing trash and recycling receptacles that are unscreened and/or in the right of way.”
Even though there’s no onsite recycling at most apartments, tenants still pay to recycle. The city charges a $2.30 monthly recycling fee to help pay for a household hazardous-waste program and other recycling efforts, including drop-off sites.
Single-family homes pay a $5.15 monthly recycling fee, which includes the cost of curbside recycling.