In case you missed it, the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners approved yet another hike in garbage hauling rates late last month. For years, Waste Management (WM), owner of Riverbend Landfill, has predicted that closing the dump would lead to increases in garbage pick-up rates across the County.
However, hauling rates have risen steadily over the past several years despite the fact that the dump remains open. Rates in 2008 when WM first applied to expand the dump ranged from $11.83/can in rural areas to $17.03/can within city limits. With the new increases, rates will now top off at more than $28/can.
Stop the Dump Coalition and others have long contended that WM's fear-mongering linking rate increases to Riverbend closure was a red herring. Rates are driven by costs incurred by hauling companies, and are not directly tied to gate fees at any dump. Currently, Recology, which serves McMinnville and the south County, has no contract with Riverbend and must pay the same gate fees as anybody else.
And rates must be approved by the County before they can be imposed. This spring, some members of the County's Solid Waste Advisory Committee tried to convince that body to ask the Commissioners to put the hauling contracts out to bid. The contracts, which are exclusive -- meaning no competition will be tolerated -- have never been put to bid. Households in many other counties, including some without a local landfill, pay lower rates.
Rate Increase Details
Recology will get a 0.5% CPI (cost of living) increase. This is expected to add 17¢ to the monthly bill of a household with a 90-gallon can, the largest regular can available.
WM, which picks up waste in Newberg and the north County, asked for and received an increase of 3.68% CPI, adding $1.00/month to households with a 64-gallon can.
The dump also increased its gate rates. The minimum drop off fee for waste brought directly to the dump will now be $15.10.
Households can avoid increases by switching to smaller cans, reducing waste, and recycling more.
For more information, contact Sherrie Mathison at mathiss@co.yamhill.or.us.
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