IRON MOUNTAIN — A mandatory curbside recycling program may be implemented in Iron Mountain later this year, carrying a cost roughly estimated at $7 per household per month.

Beginning this year, Michigan’s benchmark recycling standards require that 90% of single-family dwellings in urban areas have access to curbside recycling. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy does allow for voluntary programs, but the city has decided that mandatory recycling will enhance its competitiveness for grant applications and lower the per-household cost.

The council this week approved a plan to apply for an EGLE grant that will pay 80% of the cost for wheeled recycling carts. The application deadline is Jan. 28 and the estimated cost to the city for 4,000 carts is $44,000.

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 City Manager Jordan Stanchina. It’s hoped that maximizing waste diversion from landfills will push the city’s disposal costs low enough to better offset the cost for recycling collections, he said.

GFL Environmental has provided automated garbage pickup in the city since August 2023. Once curbside recycling is offered, GFL will allow recyclables to be placed in one capped 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.

As proposed, recycling collections will occur biweekly. All residents will receive a cart, participating as they choose but charged regardless.

Under a voluntary program, at least 1,000 of the city’s customers would need to participate to qualify for the lowest pricing from GFL. Norway and Kingsford initially tried a voluntary plan but fell far short of getting 1,000 signed on.

The Kingsford council this week agreed to team with Iron Mountain and any other municipalities interested in applying for an EGLE grant for carts.

In other action, the Iron Mountain council:

— Approved the purchase of a 4×4 Western Star plow truck with Monroe equipment and a five-year warranty from U.P. Truck Center of Quinnesec at a cost of $302,316. The cost is $100,000 more than what was budgeted, but a lower bid of $240,048 from U.P. International of Iron Mountain didn’t meet specifications. At best, the new truck may be available for the next winter season, replacing a 1996 International Paystar.

— Approved an ordinance update to govern bike trails in the city. The new rules align with those adopted in 2024 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for natural surface non-motorized trails in the state park system. Motorized bikes are prohibited, except pedal-assisted e-bikes with speeds up to 20 mph. Higher classes of e-bikes, such as those that have a throttle or are capable of greater speeds, are prohibited. Violations are a civil infraction, with fines of $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second and $500 for a third. The city may also impound a device operated repeatedly or willfully in violation.

— Learned that 106 antlerless deer and six bucks were culled during a managed archery hunt on designated parcels from Oct. 1 through Jan. 1. Previously, the 82 deer harvested in the 2024 season had been the most dating back to 2012. Hunters are permitted to harvest a buck using their own tag after three antlerless deer are taken on city permits.

— Accepted the low quote of $13,500 from Baird, of Lansing, to serve as financial advisor for issuing bonds for a $5.245 million water service line replacement project funded through the Michigan Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The package for the project to begin this year includes a $2.5 million loan at 2% interest, plus $1.72 million in principal forgiveness and a lead and infrastructure grant of $780,000.

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