New Waste Management Facility will increase rates to customers
Lane county residents can expect their garbage rates to increase soon due to a new waste management facility. The Lane County Commissioners recently voted to approve a contract for building a more sustainable and technologically advanced facility. The project is estimated to cost $150 million.
$100 million will be paid for by Bulk Handling Systems while the remaining $50 million will come from Lane County.
Sanipac sent out letters to their customers explaining the increase. You can find more information on their website.
To pay for the facility, Lane County would increase tipping fees 11% in 2024 and 2025 and 6% plus inflation in 2026 and 2027.
The county projected would come out to a $2.30-per-month increase at the end of the four years for an average resident. The increase would be higher for most commercial customers, whose garbage rates are calculated with a more complex formula.
“Our job is being good stewards of our public resources,” Commissioner Laurie Trieger said. “We also really owe it to our constituents to get out of the weeds and trust our professional staff and consultants and zoom out and think big picture. Because the decisions we make today are going to impact the future. … We (commissioners) all have kids and/or grandchildren and that’s really who this project is for.”
The new facility aims to keep food waste and recycling out of landfills.
During public comment, the proposal received praise from people who said it would reduce Lane County’s landfill use and emissions and create jobs, but opposition from people who objected to the increased rates needed to build the Integrated Materials and Energy Recovery facility, and potential harm to the people who currently haul, recycle, and siphon methane from Lane County’s waste.
Sources: The Register Guard & KEZI