Prineville trash rates go up

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, August 24, 2005

PRINEVILLE – Prineville residents will pay up to $2 more per month to have their trash picked up starting this fall.

Prineville City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to allow Prineville Disposal to raise trash collection rates by roughly 20 percent for residential and commercial customers located in the city limits.

Mayor Mike Wendel voted against the 20 percent increase after proposing a lower percentage.

The new rates would affect about 2,500 residents within the city and are expected to go into effect by Oct. 1. There is no charge to recycle.

The weekly pickup rate for residents who provide their own trash can will increase from $7.20 to $9 per month, according to the new fee schedule. Residents who use the company’s 35-gallon rolling garbage can – the most common size provided – will see their fees rise 80 cents to $9 per month for a weekly pickup.

Weekly pickup rates for a 65-gallon rolling garbage can will increase from $14.60 to $16.20 per month. The weekly pickup fee for a 95-gallon rolling garbage can will go up 20 cents to $22 per month.

Customers who are 65 or older can get a 10 percent discount.

Businesses will now pay up to approximately $10 to $70 more per month for bin pickup service, depending on the number of pickups scheduled per week.

For instance, businesses will now pay $85.75 per month to have a 1-yard bin picked up twice a week, up from the $71.45 that was previously charged. The once-a-week pickup rate for a 1.5-yard bin will increase from $53.35 to $64. It will now cost $425.15, about $71 more than the old rate, to have a 2-yard bin picked up six times per week.

Prineville Disposal is the sole garbage collector for the city and Crook County. The price hike is the company’s first fee increase for city customers since 1996, said owner Gary Goodman.