![A truck unloads recycling at Kimble Companies in Twinsburg. [Mary Fecteau and Margaret Cavalier / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/03fd65c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/980x551+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2F30%2FKimbleRecycling%5B1%5D.jpg)
Some preliminary guidance on how to restart the City of Cleveland鈥檚 stalled recycling program may come before the end of the year, Chief Operating Officer Darnell Brown told city council Monday.
Waste consultant GT Environmental is examining every corner of the city鈥檚 trash and recycling system, with plans to deliver a draft report by the middle or end of December, Brown said. But a firmer plan of action may not take shape until the second quarter of 2021.
鈥淲e need to understand where the market is, and we need a contract,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淲hich means we鈥檇 have to go out for some type of procurement process, and you know how long that can take.鈥�
In April, Mayor Frank Jackson acknowledged the city was hauling Clevelanders鈥� recyclables to the landfill with other trash, thanks to the cratering price of recyclable material driven by China鈥檚 decision to stop accepting reusable U.S. waste. The high contamination rate of the city's recyclables has also posed challenges.
Council members pressed for more details on when the city will resuscitate its recycling program at Monday鈥檚 finance committee meeting, saying they 鈥� and the public 鈥� should have more input on the study process.
鈥淥ur residents want to know when is this coming back and what does it look like,鈥� Ward 3 Councilman Kerry McCormack said. 鈥淎nd we get those calls, tweets, texts every single day.鈥�
Ward 15 Councilwoman Jenny Spencer asked how to explain to residents why the city still picks up trash and recycling separately, even though both waste products end up in the same place.
鈥淩esidents are still 鈥� for those who are aware of the challenges of the recycling program 鈥� they just don鈥檛 get it,鈥� Spencer said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 understand why we鈥檙e still putting out blue bins.鈥�
Clevelanders should continue separating trash and recycling, keeping the habit up while the city retools its program, Brown said.
GT Environmental began its study Aug. 28 and is evaluating how the city handles recycling, garbage, illegal dumping, public outreach and other facets of the waste pickup operation.
鈥淭hey met with the managers, they met with supervisors, they met with the rank-and-file employees, they rode the routes with them, asked questions, so it was a very thorough engagement,鈥� Brown said.
