Since opening in January 2016, the containers at Whitefish’s central recycling site regularly overflow with cans and cardboard during peak demand periods, a challenge that has prompted city officials to begin considering a mandatory curbside recycling program.
The service would either operate using a three-bin system — one for paper, one for plastic and metal and one for cardboard — or using a “single-stream” system in which all recyclables could be placed in one collection container.
Whitefish City Manager Adam Hammatt said single-stream systems are generally well received by the public and are more effective, while systems that require residents to separate their items are less popular.
“We have to come up with a system that is easy for people, because people want easy,” Hammatt said.
Although a single-stream system would likely require the addition of a recycling sorting center and cost more to establish, Hammatt said it’s his experience that such a program enjoys more success.
“Over the course of time you establish a culture around recycling and it becomes accepted. When you just start out it’s kind of tough, but over the course of five or 10 years it becomes part of the culture.”