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Hopkinsville Officials Discuss Reviving Curbside Recycling
City weighs options after previous program was suspended due to low participation.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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The Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole heard a presentation from the Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise (HSWE) about potentially bringing back curbside recycling through a third-party service provider. The previous recycling program was eliminated in 2025 due to low participation, with only 1,000 of HSWE's 10,000 customers utilizing the service and resulting in over $12 million in losses. HSWE welcomed bids from outside companies to operate a recycling service, but no interested parties came forward, citing concerns over the lack of mandatory participation.
Why it matters
Hopkinsville's decision to suspend its curbside recycling program highlights the challenges many municipalities face in maintaining effective waste management and recycling services. As cities strive to reduce landfill waste and promote sustainability, finding the right model to engage residents remains an ongoing issue.
The details
During the February 19th committee meeting, HSWE general manager Bryan Silver presented the option of opening bids for third-party recycling services that could operate independently from HSWE. Silver said potential bidders were deterred by the lack of mandatory participation, with only 9% of eligible residents using the previous recycling service. While no action was taken, councilmembers discussed the possibility of visiting the landfill to better understand HSWE's operations.
- The Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole met on February 19, 2026 to discuss the future of curbside recycling.
- Curbside recycling was eliminated in Hopkinsville in August 2025 due to low participation.
The players
Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise (HSWE)
The municipal solid waste department responsible for waste management and recycling services in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Bryan Silver
The general manager of the Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise.
What they’re saying
“We went through the entire bid process with no interested parties coming forward.”
— Bryan Silver, General Manager, Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise (christiancountynow.com)
“I deeply regret that our recycling program had to be suspended. Our board has no issue with allowing outside recycling companies the opportunity to serve our citizens...we are committed to working with city council to make sure we see make happen.”
— Bryan Silver, General Manager, Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise (christiancountynow.com)
What’s next
Councilmembers discussed the possibility of visiting the landfill to better understand HSWE's operations and explore options for reviving a curbside recycling program.
The takeaway
Hopkinsville's struggle to maintain an effective curbside recycling program highlights the broader challenges municipalities face in engaging residents and finding sustainable waste management solutions. As cities work to reduce landfill waste, finding the right model to incentivize recycling participation remains an ongoing issue that requires creative approaches and community buy-in.
