The Twin Falls City Council voted Monday night to adopt a 10‑year sanitation contract that preserves the city’s curbside recycling program and expands the service. Council members said the decision was driven by overwhelming public support revealed in a recent citizen survey.
Survey shows strong community backing
Mayor Jason Brown highlighted the survey results, noting that about 85% of respondents expressed a desire to keep the recycling program. “You saw tonight that this one was really more generated around the recycling. Whether the citizens wanted to recycle, to continue that program or not, last week we saw in our citizen survey most citizens were happy to keep that service,” Brown said.
City staff said the survey asked residents whether they saw value in the service and whether they wanted it to continue. “It was actually really quite surprising for me to see that again about 85% of the respondents really supported the recycling program,” Brown added.
Contract details and costs
In December 2025, the city requested bids from sanitation provider PSI for waste collection with and without residential recycling. The new contract, which the council approved on Monday, will cost $6.53 per household per month for solid waste and $5.79 per month for recycling. The recycling service will continue to collect mixed paper, newspaper, and No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, and the city is exploring a future expansion to include glass.
One of the biggest challenges has been contamination from non‑recyclable items placed in the orange‑lid cans, which has sent entire loads to the landfill. Under the new agreement, PSI must notify the city if any recycling loads are diverted to the landfill, addressing a long‑standing concern.
Community response
Council member Chelsea (last name not provided) praised the high turnout for the survey, saying, “We had an outstanding number of participants for the survey. If there’s more accepted for recycling, they want it, they want to keep it.” She added that clearer guidance on what can and cannot be recycled will help reduce contamination.
Mayor Brown echoed that sentiment, noting residents have repeatedly asked, “What can’t go in?” He said the new contract’s reporting requirements and educational outreach should give citizens a better understanding of acceptable materials, which he expects will be a “big success going forward.”
Implementation timeline
The expanded recycling service is scheduled to roll out on January 1, 2027. The city will work with PSI to ensure a smooth transition and will provide updated educational materials to help households sort their waste correctly.
City officials said the contract reflects a partnership that balances fiscal responsibility with the community’s environmental values. By preserving recycling and planning for future expansion, Twin Falls aims to reduce landfill waste while honoring the clear wishes of its residents.
Original reporting: KIVI Idaho News 6 Boise metro (local) — read the source article.
