By Kolby R. LaMarche

Burlington is at a crossroads with its municipal recycling program, which is struggling under the weight of chronic staffing shortages and rising operational costs. The city has historically prided itself on maintaining public control over, among many things, recycling services, but the inability to fill critical positions has strained the Department of Public Works (DPW) and sparked discussions about privatization as a potential solution.

Financially, the recycling program faces significant hurdles. The proposed FY26 budget for recycling is set at $1,440,000, covering direct and indirect expenses. 

The budget aims to stabilize the program by funding an additional two to three full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, providing interim recruitment and retention bonuses, acquiring more reliable vehicles, and covering indirect costs more fully. 

To support this, the city is proposing a 48% increase in the Solid Waste Generation Tax (SWGT), raising it from $6.90 to approximately $10.20 per residential dwelling unit. 

When combined with an additional $260,000 in solid waste capital needs—such as maintenance for the Manhattan landfill and improvements to the soil management facility at 201 Flynn Avenue—the SWGT could rise by almost 75% overall, reaching $12.00 per unit.

While the Burlington City Council and DPW are committed to exploring ways to keep recycling public, the program’s sustainability hinges largely on resolving the staffing crisis. Without enough workers, the city faces tough choices that would force a reshaping of recycling services for residents.

The recycling program’s challenges stem from a combination of vacant positions, overworked staff, and increasing financial pressures. Currently, all four dedicated recycling positions are unfilled, forcing the DPW to rely on Street Maintenance Workers to cover recycling routes. 

These workers, often already tasked with demanding duties like snow plowing or street sweeping, are being pulled from seasonal road repairs and other maintenance projects, which limits the department’s ability to generate revenue. 

Public testimony from workers during City Council meetings has highlighted the toll of this arrangement, with some employees working overnight plowing shifts only to be called in for recycling duties the next day. 

The city’s exploration of privatization came as a pragmatic response to these challenges, but it wasn’t warmly welcomed by the community. While no final decisions have been made, the Council and DPW are conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis of maintaining public recycling versus outsourcing to private haulers. Privatization could potentially reduce costs by leveraging external resources, but risks diverting funds from public employees and infrastructure, something residents have made clear they want to see stay. 

For now, the city says, it is committed to public recycling, so as Burlington can mend the staff gaps and have good retention. 

To address the staffing shortage, the DPW is actively recruiting for both full-time and temporary recycle truck driver positions. 

The city is offering a $2,000 hiring bonus and a $500 referral bonus to attract candidates. 

Additionally, Street Maintenance employees with Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) who take on recycling duties receive a $4-per-hour premium pay as part of an agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).