Atherton trash pick-up rates increase 88% for 2012-13

Surprise, it costs money to pick-up residential trash, greenwaste garbage, and to recycle.  Recology takes over another failed-cost contract, this one from Allied Waste.  

San Mateo County Times/Bonnie Eslinger, 11/18/11.  "Atherton residents overall will pay 88 percent more for trash pickup than they did in 2010.And it could have been worse."We tried to make the rates as low as we could," Vice Mayor Bill Widmer Widmer said Thursday. The new rates that the city council unanimously approved Wednesday will take effect Jan. 15. They are 31 percent higher than current rates that were increased a few months ago in July.

The council had postponed approving another rate increase so officials could investigate why it had to be so steep.  Because a set price for the pickup service had already been established, however, Widmer said bills in 2012 and 2013 will incorporate amounts that weren't collected during the delay -- a total of roughly $500,000 to $600,000. Other costs that factored into next year's higher rates include a consumer price index-based contract increase to the hauler that took over in January -- Recology San Mateo County -- pay raises, higher disposal and processing fees, and debt owed to the previous vendor, Allied Waste.

Widmer said Atherton's rates also are high because residents generate large amounts of green waste and compost. The town has been taking a loss because while each green container costs $19.35 per month to pick up, residents were given two free bins and charged only $1 each for any extra ones until July, when the charge went up to $6. Next year, the charge for a third and fourth green container will be $10 each, and each container after that $15. "We've got one resident who has 35 of these barrels," Widmer said. "Another has 25 and one 23." The new prices approved for 2012 should finally help level out the overall costs so residents won't be hit with substantial price hikes in coming years, Widmer said."

Cost reference in article, source:  Town of Atherton.

Trash "2010 rates July 2011 Approved 2012 Change 2010 to 2012

20 gallon bin $17.31 $ 20 $ 26 + $8.69 (50%), 32 gallon bin $ 27.69 $ 44.01 $ 55 + $27.31 (97%), 64 gallon bin $ 55.38 $ 101.23 $105 + $49.62 (90%), 96 gallon bin $ 82.18 $ 163.29 $155 + 72.82 (89%)
Compost (green) containers 2010 rates July 2011 Approved 2012 Change 2010 to 2012
Two cans Free Free Free + $0 (0%), 3+ $1 each $6 each $10 each + $9 (900%), 5+ $1 $6 $15 each + $ 14 (1400%)."

Posted by Kathy Meeh