Washington trash collection rate to increase
Washington City Council approved a five-year contract for solid waste and recycling collection which will result in an increase in residents’ rates.
The contract was awarded to Big’s Sanitation at Thursday’s council meeting by a unanimous vote. The new contract takes effect in January.
The terms of the deal are $1.302 million for the first year; $1.341 million year two; $1.380 million, year three; $1.421 million, year four, and $1.464 million in the final year of the deal.
City Administrator Donn Henderson said residents will see an increase of about 23% in the first year of the contract, raising from $243 to about $300. There will be an increase of about 2 or 3% in subsequent years.
“Some of that will depend on how well our collections go,” Henderson said.
The current annual rate of $243 has been in effect since 2013.
Big’s Sanitation was one of three companies that submitted bids for the collection contract, along with Waste Management and Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, which owns current hauler County Hauling.
Proposals were sought for multiple options, two for the traditional method of trash collection and one for automated collection, which calls for one driver in the truck picking up the trash with tongs.
Big’s Sanitation bid only the traditional methods.
“We will brace people to be patient when the transition occurs,” Henderson said. “The new hauler will not be as familiar with the streets and locations as the old one.”
Council also unanimously passed an ordinance amending city regulations concerning the business privilege tax abatement. The new regulations limit the once city-wide abatement program to the business district.
“It just limited the area,” said Mayor Scott Putnam. “We’ve got people in the business district who are paying an assessment to get the business district authority’s help and guidance. They’re paying an extra fee so it’s giving them an opportunity to save some money.”
Council also unanimously approved new management software for the police department.