Trash fees go up on Jan. 1

Douglas Disposal customers will see a 4.86-percent increase starting Sunday.

A resident with a 32-gallon container will see a $2.52 increase per quarter, while those with 45-gallon containers will see a $3.06 increase.

Douglas County commissioners approved the requested rate increases for both Douglas Disposal and South Tahoe Refuse at their Dec. 15 meeting.

According to a letter from company Controller Terry Trease, the company waived annual cost increases for 2020 and 2021 and reduced this year’s increase from the allowed 9.17 percent to 4.86 percent. Douglas Disposal hasn’t increased rates since 2019. The company has agreed not to seek another rate increase until 2024.

Outgoing County Commissioner John Engels expressed concern for the company, bringing up the rate of inflation.

“We don’t want them to go out of business because costs exceed revenue,” he said.

Douglas County Public Works Director Phil Ritger said rates do lag inflation, but that the company hasn’t expressed any concern that the increase won’t cover its costs.

Douglas Disposal has a 25-year franchise agreement with the county, which expires in 4-5 years, Ritger said.

Commissioner Wes Rice serves on the committee consisting of Douglas, South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County.

“They brought forth their expenses and are doing what they need to keep everything on an even keel,” he said. “I think they are being extremely reasonable going with same rate as up at the Lake.”

The company serves all residents of East Fork Township outside of the towns of Minden and Gardnerville, which operate their own trash services.

Gardnerville Town Manager Erik Nilssen said a proposed increase in tipping fees at the Carson City landfill will eat up all of an increase effective July 1 in the town.

“Carson City Landfill is raising their landfill fees from $58 a ton,” Nilssen told board members at their December meeting. “Our 8 percent raise that kicks in in July will generate $100,000 a year. This 30 percent increase will cost us $100,000 a year.”

The increase was sent back to the drawing board, but Nilssen expects that will mean a rate even higher than the 30 percent for those using the landfill from outside the capital.

Carson City supervisors are expected to discuss the rate increase soon.

Minden Town Manager J.D. Frisby said the town will conduct a study on its trash rates but doesn’t plan to implement anything this budget cycle.