Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 6, Issue 11, November 2002

Copyright 2002 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Seattle Sun as your source.

Utility rates to go up to pay for better waste handling

By SUSAN PARK

Earlier in October, Seattle Public Utilities Director Chuck Clarke and spokesperson Nick Pealy presented Mayor Greg Nickels' proposal for increasing rates and improving the City's waste handling of storm water, trash, and sewage. The City Council will be voting on the proposal in November.

Mayor Greg Nickels' 2003-2004 rates and budget proposal calls for getting "back to basics" and investing in the rebuilding Seattle's storm drainage, water, and sewer lines. "Seattle's wastewater systems are pushing 80- to 100-years-old," said Pealy.

Solid waste services would also be improved including facility upgrades for the City's two recycling and disposal stations and the development of an integrated transfer and transport system that will improve efficiency in garbage collection and disposal. Fremont's drop-off transfer station would be rebuilt to make it more user friendly and efficient.

Pealy explained that the new rates would also better reflect actual usage, such as with dumpster fees for apartment dwellers who recycle and compost the least. "Rates have been subsidized for apartments by (single family house) residences over some time." Student apartments around the University of Washington produce the largest amount of garbage.

Under the mayor's proposal, a typical family would pay $3.52 more per month total for drainage, wastewater and solid waste collection services beginning Jan. 1, 2003, increasing by an additional $3.53 per month beginning Jan. 1, 2004.

Residential Trash Pickup

There will be no increase in single-family typical 32-gallon trash pickup until 2004. In 2004, the rates would increase by an additional $.50 per month to $16.60 per month.

Apartment Dumpster Rates

Dumpster rates for apartments will increase from $87.60 to $95.71 per load (1 cubic yard) per week. In 2004, this rate will increase to $98.58.

Commercial Dumpster Rates

The raise in commercial dumpster rates is negligible from $211.21 per load (3 cubic yards) to $213.24 per load in 2003. In 2004, this rate will increase to $217.37. The City has begun installing blue recycling cans in urban areas which businesses can use to get rid of office paper easily. In the future, the City hopes to recycle food waste which makes up over a quarter of everyone's garbage.

Yard Waste

In 2003, yard waste customers would see an increase of $1 per month to $5.25 per month and $5.40 per month in 2004. One way to save money is to compost your yard waste and use the compost in your garden. Nancy Mulmgren of Carkeek Park requested that the City not raise yard waste rates because she says people dump their yard waste in Carkeek Park and it must be hauled away.

Watewater Rates (Sewer)

Your bill is calculated based on your winter water use as measured in ccfs (100 cubic feet). Each ccf is equal to 748 gallons. The typical single-family homeowner, using six ccf per month, would see an increase of $2.02 per month in 2003, to a total of $33.16 per month. In 2004, the rate would increase by an additional $1.67 per month to $34.82 per month.

Recycling collection

There is no charge for curbside recycling services.

Self-haul garbage rates

The flat rate, and minimum charge, for garbage brought to a Recycling and Disposal Station would increase by 65 cents per trip in 2003 to $14, with no increase in 2004. Vehicles that pay the flat rate include sedans, station wagons and sport utility vehicles (all without trailers).

Vehicles that pay the per-ton rate include trucks, pick-up trucks, vans, minivans, vehicles with trailers, travel-alls, motor homes, modified buses, aid cars and commercial vehicles. The per-ton rate would increase by $2.90 per ton to $99.15 in 2003 and $2.95 per ton to $102.10 in 2004.

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For more information, visit the Seattle Public Utilities Web site at www.cityofseattle.net/util.