Republic Services plans to raise its waste management rates for residential customers by 3.57% beginning Jan. 1, the company’s municipal manager, Julie Jackson, told the Philomath City Council last week. Commercial customers will see a 4.03% increase, while industrial customers face a 2.2% hike.
The increases are based on the refuse rate index, which factors in the Consumer Price Index and disposal costs. For residential customers, monthly rates will rise between 62 cents and $1.56, depending on cart size.
Jackson noted the rate hikes appear to be returning to pre-pandemic norms.
“Prior to COVID, those increases were between 2-1/2 and 3-1/2% almost every year,” she said. During the pandemic, rates jumped 9% due to exceptionally high CPI numbers, though the company didn’t always request the full amount allowed under their formula.
“We’re really glad to see CPI moderating and being in a much more reasonable range and we’re working hard to keep costs down,” Jackson said.
The rate adjustment formula, agreed upon between the city and Republic Services in 2013, is unique to Philomath and Corvallis.
“You’re the only two cities that do it in this way,” Jackson said. “I suspect it’s because you had the same city attorney at the time.”
Jackson also updated the council on Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act, which launched July 1 and standardizes recycling rules statewide.
“I think that’s one of the smartest things that happened because people come from different communities and there have been all these little, different glitches,” she said. “Now we can say that we’re doing the same thing across Oregon.”
Key changes include allowing plastic lids to remain on bottles and jars, as new technology can handle them. Plastic buckets, like those used for cat litter, are now recyclable even with handles attached.
The biggest change involves metal — residents can now recycle up to 10 pounds of scrap metal, as long as pieces are under 18 inches in diameter.
Jackson also addressed common recycling questions. Pizza boxes, for instance, can be recycled if you remove the greasy bottom portion. Egg cartons are also acceptable.
Items that should not go into the recycling bins include batteries, plastic bags, food or liquid and other items. Jackson shared a recycling graphic with the council to illustrate what is acceptable and not acceptable.
What about glass bottles and jars?