Refuse Division Data

Highlights

• Increased refuse route completion rates from 50-65% in early 2025 to over 90% in late 2025 without additional cost, by initiating a performance-based incentive system, shifting recycling collection to centralized drop sites, and by reforming paid family and medical leave.
• While route completion and coverage data was not recorded until September 2025, CSB requests for missed refuse collections indicate 50-65% completion rates in the first half of 2025.
• Implemented a $75/day “extra route” incentive model in August 2025, improving productivity and workforce morale.

Quarterly Route Coverage

The Refuse Division is responsible for the collection and disposal of residential waste, and coordinates efforts to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. Alley and roll cart waste collection represents a significant component of Refuse Division operations.

Typically, alley routes collect solid waste twice a week and yard waste once a week. Yard waste is only collected on an as-needed basis during the mid-December to mid-March period. Roll cart routes collect solid waste once a week, recycling once a week, and yard waste once a week.

The dashboard below displays the percentage of alley and roll cart routes covered by these operations in a given quarter.

The Division met its goal of 95% route coverage in Q1. In Q2, the Division fell slightly short of its goal due to limitations with staffing and truck availability.

Monthly Completion of Scheduled Refuse Service

The dashboard below displays the percentage of scheduled refuse service completed in a given month. Scheduled refuse service represents the percentage of completed refuse service out of the total targeted refuse service for a given period. Partial route coverage is included in this calculation. 

The monthly view of route coverage shows a decrease in performance in April and May. Both of these months had lower coverage due to staffing issues. Performance was much stronger in June at 97.5%, exceeding the 95% coverage goal.

Tonnage Successfully Recycled

In 2025, the City pivoted to a recycling strategy based on data-driven insights indicating that over 50% of collected materials were being rejected due to contamination (for example, if trash was thrown in alongside recycling, this will “contaminate” the entire load). Instead of alley collection, the Refuse division implemented recycling drop-off points. The results in the first six months were outstanding:

• Slashed contamination by 85%.
• Increased percentage of material successfully recycled from 37% to 78%.
• Savings: over the first six months, the new system generated over $450,000 in cost savings compared to the old system. Similar cost savings have continued over time.
• Increased the number of drop-off recycling locations by 21 for a total of 46 sites, ensuring a location within a mile of every resident.

In early 2026, rates of contamination (e.g., trash being introduced into recycling loads) increased and the percentage of tonnage successfully recycled dropped to around 75%. The causes for increased contamination are currently being investigated, and a pilot program is underway for two routes that have the highest contamination rates to improve these numbers.