Federal Way’s garbage disposal services and fees will increase marginally next year.
The city council, on Dec. 1, revised and renewed the city’s contract with Waste Management for another seven-year period. Beginning in March, the rates for waste disposal services will rise. Increased access to recycling services for commercial customers will go hand-in-hand with the rate jump. Commercial customers could save money by choosing to partake in the free recycling, rather than pay for supplemental trash disposal, said Rob Van Orsow, the city’s solid waste and recycling coordinator.
Rates
Rate increases will apply to single-family residential and commercial customers. Single-family customers will see a monthly rate increase of $1.01 to $4.87, depending on trash can size and the number of times, per month, the trash is scheduled for collection, according to a Nov. 24 memorandum from public works director Cary Roe and Van Orsow.
Commercial customers will see increases between $9.38 and $92.01, depending on can size and the number of collections per week, according to the same memo. Commercial drop box hauling services will experience a rate increase of either $56.05 or $67.63, depending on whether the drop box features a compactor.
Commercial customers not currently partaking in recycling services will have the opportunity to do so under the new contract. Basic recycling services, including two recycling carts, will be provided at no cost. Commercial customers currently subscribing to recycling services will see the service fee eliminated on their bill, according to the memo.
The rates are increasing because Waste Management’s fees for collection services have not kept pace with the costs for fuel and labor, according to the memo. The disposal company proposed a 30 percent revenue increase generated from the new rates. City staff negotiated a contract that reflected an overall revenue increase of 16.9 percent.
“It’s still a phenomenal rate,” said Susan Robinson, Waste Management Washington director of public sector services. “It’s the lowest rate we’ve seen (negotiated) in King County in three years.”
Even after the rate increase, Federal Way’s prices will be lower than Waste Management rates in nearby municipalities. Renton, north King County, Snohomish County, Issaquah, unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties and unincorporated areas adjacent to Federal Way will pay 1 to 19.2 percent more for garbage service from Waste Management than what will be paid by Federal Way customers beginning in March. However, the contracts may vary in the services they offer to residents.
Community partner
The renewed contract is viewed as beneficial to the community. Waste Management knows Federal Way and has existing routes and infrastructure in place to provide service to residents. Additionally, the company, in the past two years, has stepped forward to assist the community as a whole.
Waste Management collects bags of food left curbside by residents during the Mayor’s Month of Concern for the Hungry in September. The food is donated to the food bank. Waste Management began assisting with the food collection in 2008. This year, it is also sponsoring the Federal Way Symphony.
“We’ll continue to work as a partner to support your community,” Robinson said.
City council member Dini Duclos said she is satisfied with the new contract and feels, despite the rate increase, that Federal Way and its residents are getting a good deal.
