ROGERS -- A request to increase the price of trash pickup for about 18,000 households in Rogers will go before a city committee Tuesday.
Inland Waste Solutions will bring the rate increase proposal before the city's Public Works Committee, said Chris Griffin, Rogers staff attorney. He said an ordinance could be drafted and brought back before the committee and City Council during a Feb. 10 meeting.
By The Numbers
Proposed Trash Rate Increase
Residential Waste
• 64-gallon recycling container-card: increase from $2.70 to $2.85
• 96-gallon solid waste container: increase from $11.06 to $11.60
• 64-gallon solid waste container: increase from $10.65 to $11.20
• 32-gallon solid waste container: increase from $10 to $10.50
Transfer Station Disposal Rate Increase
• Automobile load: increase from $6 to $6.50
• Pickup without racks: increase from $10.50 to $11
• Pickup with racks: increase from $14.75 to $15.50
• One ton truck: increase from $14.75 to $15.50
• One-and-a-half ton truck or larger: increase from $10.50 to $11
Source: Staff Report
Kevin Hodges, Inland Waste market area vice president, said a majority of households in the region could see a 69 cent increase if the increase is approved. The City Council would decide when the increase goes into effect.
Most households have one 96-gallon trash container and one 64-gallon recycling container, Hodges said. He said the cost of having both would increase from $13.76 to $14.45 a month.
The increase is needed to keep up with rising costs to dump the trash at landfills, Hodges said. He said the cost of disposing of the trash has increased from $28.75 per ton to $35 per ton since 2010. He said the cost will increase to $36 per ton in 2016.
Inland disposes of about 60 tons of trash a day from the Rogers' contract, he said.
"The costs add up," Hodges said. "At some point you have to recoup some of those costs."
The cost of dropping trash at Inland's transfer stations could also increase, Hodges said.
Documents filed with the city by Inland last month show the cost of dropping off trash will increase from $6 to $6.50 for each car load.
Mayor Greg Hines said the last time Inland asked for an increase was 2010.
"I think the increase is the cost of doing business," Hines said. "I think in this case they need a rate increase to continue having a profitable business."
Inland also has continued replacing vehicles and giving raises to employees in recent years, Hodges said.
"Maintenance costs are increasing, and we are trying to hold onto our employees," Hodges said. He said this helps the company offer the level of service that the community expects.
Inland also wants to start using environmental alternatives in the region, Hodges said.
"We are thinking about green fuels," he said. "We have operations in other areas that use compressed natural gas. We are trying to implement that in Rogers as well."
Rogers' Public Works Committee tabled Inland's rate increase request during a meeting Jan. 13. Committee members asked Inland to bring back information on trash pickup costs for other cities in the region.
Hodges said the cost comparison wasn't ready as of Wednesday.
"It is not an apples to apples comparison," Hodges said. He said trash companies offer packages and the services included can be different from city to city.
Teresa Moss can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWATeresaM.
NW News on 01/22/2015