The city of Eau Claire is at a crossroads with regard to its approach to garbage and recycling services. It uses an “open market” model, unique for Wisconsin cities of its size, that requires individual homeowners to contract directly with private haulers for trash and recycling pickup. The city has used this model for most of its history, and officials indicate it has provided a high level of service for years.
During the summer of 2022, however, some residents experienced severe delays in their garbage and recycling services, with full carts sitting on the curb well beyond their scheduled pickup. Service providers indicate this disruption was due to a convergence of factors — including the pandemic, a driver shortage, and a merger of providers — that is unlikely to occur again.
While service has largely returned to normal, this incident contributed to a decision by city leaders to review the city’s existing garbage and recycling service model and ordinances. Other precipitating factors included recognition that improvements in trash hauling technologies may have made certain longstanding ordinance provisions ripe for updating; and the possibility that certain practices mandated by the ordinances, such as requirements for weekly residential recycling collection, may no longer be consistent with state or national practices and may conflict with other policy goals.
This report responds to a request by city of Eau Claire officials that the Wisconsin Policy Forum conduct an independent review of the city’s current approach to solid waste collection. Our analysis focuses on four services: residential garbage pickup, recycling pickup, large item pickup, and yard waste disposal. It excludes services for commercial and multi-family residential properties, as they are generally arranged through private contracts by property owners.
For this research, we consulted with local leaders and waste hauling representatives and reviewed official documents to understand the current service landscape in the city and its strengths and weaknesses. We then examined solid waste collection policies in other cities across the state to better understand their service models and practices and what insights they may hold for Eau Claire.
Specifically, our analysis considers alternative options for service delivery, including bringing trash collection in house or contracting with a single private provider or providers for citywide services. We lay out the pros and cons of potential refuse collection policy changes (including new or revised revenue options) and alternative refuse collection models, basing these alternatives on the experiences of other communities in Wisconsin and the specific conditions in Eau Claire.
Overall, our goal is to provide insight and analysis that will help city leaders consider whether and how to modernize their current approach to solid waste collection in a manner that will provide Eau Claire residents with the best service possible for a reasonable price.