Republic Services plans to implement a 5.1% rate increase for Philomath residents, a company representative told the Philomath City Council Monday night.
Julie Jackson, municipal relations manager, mentioned the rate increase as part of an annual report that is delivered to the city. She said the rate hike equates to an average increase of $1.47 per customer.
“I think that’s a little higher than the average — we like it to be around 3%,” Jackson said. “I would say that the increased cost is due primarily to increased costs at Coffin Butte landfill for disposal.”
Jackson pointed to complications with disposal at the landfill as factoring into the equation.
“When we have to move into the quarry, it’s difficult, it’s moving instead of digging out dirt, it’s rock, it’s difficult and it’s expensive to do,” Jackson said. “And because you are probably aware, we’ve applied for an expansion, we’ve been working with Benton County to sort of gain a consensus … we pulled that application back out and we’ll be coming in with another one every soon.”
In an earlier report that had been sent to the mayor and council via email, Jackson also mentioned increased operational costs through Pacific Region Compost in addition to Coffin Butte.
Industrial customers will see a 3.3% increase and commercial customers will see a 5.8% increase.
The new rates will go into effect in January.
