Bainbridge city manager Blair King talks about recycling and housing legislation in his most-recent weekly report.

Senate Bill 5697 hopes to revive recycling statewide by putting more responsibility on product manufacturers to design products and support systems for recycling.

King states that in 1991, just after Bainbridge became an all-island government, the city elected to make recycling voluntary. BI is now the only city in the county that does not mandate garbage and recycling collection. Also, except for BI, compost collection is available in all other Kitsap County cities.

He says it’s ironic because “with our new waste reduction ordinance, we are the leaders in the county. We will see if the passage of SB 5697 changes our approach.”

Regarding housing, there are at least two bills that seek to increase housing, but they would preempt local control. House Bill 1782 and Senate Bill 5670 would mandate increased housing within one-half mile of major transit stops, and mandate the acceptance of fourplexes in lots zoned for single-family residences.

The City Council has asked King to send a letter to the legislature explaining why that’s a bad idea for BI. “Generally, one-size-fits-all planning mandates do not produce the results the legislative sponsors hope for,” King says. “The City Council supports affordable housing but feels it can be achieved without the state preempting local control.”