Kira Erickson reports from the Langley City Council meeting of Mon., Dec. 16, 2024 for the South Whidbey Record.
The convenience of curbside recycling pick-up could soon become a reality for Langley citizens.
Not everyone is a fan, however.
During a city council meeting last week, Andrew Riggs, the site manager for Island Disposal, shared the company’s plan for expanding recycling for residential customers, which includes those living in the Village by the Sea. He asked the council to consider providing a letter of support, which the council did not do….
Several Langley residents spoke out against the program and voiced their preference for the recycling centers.
They Said It
Councilmember Chris Carlson read aloud some questions from Langley’s Climate Crisis Action Committee, which included a query about whether Island Disposal would provide the city with a bin to collect glass so locals don’t have to drive to recycling centers in Bayview and Freeland. Riggs responded that he believed something could be worked out, although finding a place to take glass on the mainland might be easier said than done.
Carlson said any increase in cost will have an impact on older residents living on fixed incomes. He asked how to mitigate those cost increases and if any grant programs might exist. Though he wondered if charging customers more for bigger containers would incentivize them to switch to the smaller ones, Riggs said this was not possible because rate structures are regulated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
Councilmember Gail Fleming said she’s so used to sorting her recycling and taking it to the centers that she probably won’t take advantage of curbside recycling.
Councilmember Craig Cyr asked what the options are if the new program gets approved by the Island County commissioners. Riggs responded that customers could choose to discontinue garbage collection service and forgo the $6.50 monthly increase, or the city of Langley could decide to remove itself from the tariff area. With the latter option, citizens would have to collect the material themselves or the city could enter into a contract with another hauler.
Cyr echoed Carlson’s concerns about members of the community not being able to afford the increases, given the feedback he’s received recently about the city adopting a sales tax increase to alleviate its dire financial situation.
