IRON MOUNTAIN — Recycling carts are on Iron Mountain’s shopping list as the city prepares to meet state guidelines that call for curbside recycling to be offered next year.

The city may participate in a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy program that would pay 80% of the cost for the wheeled carts. Before filing a grant application, the council needs to decide whether the program will be mandatory or voluntary, as this will affect the number of units requested.

The application deadline is Jan. 28.

City Manager Jordan Stanchina outlined the implications of a mandatory versus a voluntary program during a council meeting Monday. If the city acquires its own carts, and has mandatory recycling, the cost per household would be an estimated $6.35 per month for bi-weekly collection through GFL Environmental Inc., he said.

A mandatory program would provide every customer with a recycling cart. Along with the lowest pricing, it would maximize the waste diversion from landfills, likely bumping the recycling cost per customer lower, Stanchina said.

Under a voluntary program, at least 1,000 of the city’s customers would need to participate to qualify for the lowest pricing. “The main advantage of this approach is that it would only involve those who want to participate,” Stanchina said.

Disadvantages include less diversion from landfills, the administrative burden of signing up and removing participants, and managing cart distribution, he said.

The city’s expense for landfill tipping fees is currently about $250,000 annually and the cost of waste tonnage is more than double that of recycling, according to Stanchina.

Mayor Dale Alessandrini said the city will seek input from residents before making a decision. Whether voluntary or mandatory, a recycling program likely won’t start until spring.

GFL Environmental has provided automated garbage pickup in the city since August 2023. If curbside recycling is offered, GFL will allow recyclables to be placed in one container, without separation.

By purchasing carts, as opposed to having them provided through GFL, the projected savings to the city in collection costs is 95 cents per customer per month, Stanchina said.

Council member Kyle Blomquist noted the cost for recycling carts — estimated at $55 per unit — can be recovered fairly quickly under the EGLE grant. The expense for 4,000 carts — more than what’s needed initially — would be $220,000 and the city’s share would be $44,000. At 3,300 customers, the collection cost savings over the course of one year would be $37,620.

In other action, the city council:

— Had no update on whether Ingalls veterinarian Dr. Barry Wehner is willing to provide services for the City Park deer herd. Without veterinary services, the city could be forced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to discontinue the attraction. Earlier this year, Wehner drafted a plan to correct deficiencies cited by the USDA. However, he’s yet to respond to the city’s request to provide a cost estimate for services going forward.

— Learned that, as of Monday, 61 deer have been culled through the city’s managed archery hunt. A total of 82 deer were taken within city limits in 2024. With the season extending until Jan. 1, the city may seek additional permits as only 100 were acquired through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

— Reminded residents that a leaf collection schedule can be viewed on the city’s Facebook page and at www.ironmountainmi.gov. The first full pass was being completed today, with a second pass expected to start Thursday.

— Reported that Payne and Dolan of Gladstone completed paving Oct. 29 on Fairbanks Street and Golfview Drive, connecting to North Hemlock Street; and Hemlock Street from Fairbanks to Walker Street. The rest of the paving planned under a $572,532 bid awarded in September will wait until spring.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.