Salem City Council garbage collection increases for 2024-2025 - Statesman Journal

Salem City Council garbage collection increases for 2024-2025

On the agenda: Salem City Council considers approving increase in garbage collection rates
Whitney Woodworth

The Salem City Council will meet Monday to review several proposed increases to garbage collection rates that would go in effect Jan. 1.

The Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association, a body comprised of the six solid waste management haulers serving Salem, has requested several rate increases for next year, including:

- In Marion County: An increase of 5.35% for roll cart services.
- In Polk County: An increase of 5.61% for roll cart services, 8.19% for container services and 7.98% for drop box services.
- For medical waste: An increase of 21.5% for low-volume collection, 32.3% for high-volume collection and 29.9% for hospital collection.

Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association also requested the following rate increases effective Jan. 1, 2025:

- In Marion County: An increase of 3.35% for roll cart services, 2.85% for container services and 0.27% for drop box services.
- In Polk County: An increase of 3.79% for roll cart services, 4.33% for container services and 4.79% for drop box services.
- For medical waste: An increase of 2.8% for low-volume collection, 6.5% for high-volume collection and 14.3% for hospital collection.

The proposed rate increases affecting the greatest number of Salem customers are those associated with roll cart services.

In 2024, most residential customers in Marion County will see an annual increase of about $22.20, or about $1.85 a month. Customers in Polk County will see an annual increase of about $19.80.

In 2025, most residential customers will see an additional annual increase of about $15 in Marion County and $13.80 in Polk County.

Oregon law gives cities the responsibility of regulating the rates of solid waste haulers. Salem aims to give haulers a pre-tax return on revenue of 10% and adjusts ratings accordingly.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the issue and vote on whether to adopt the new rates.

Other agenda items include:

- Considering a settlement not to exceed $95,000 for a pending federal case involving a man suing the city for being injured during his arrest.
- Considering a settlement not to exceed $85,000 for a former public works employee suing the city over damages related to his separation from his employment.
- A proclamation declaring November Native American Heritage Month.
- A proclamation declaring November National Runaway Prevention Month.
- A proclamation declaring Nov. 14 Ruby Bridges Day.
- A public hearing on the annexation of 48 acres in southeast Salem near Sunnyside Road and Cains Place SE.
- A public hearing on an amendment to the Salem Revised Code to implement more Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities requirements regarding parking lots and more broadly allowing single-room occupancy housing.
- A continued public hearing on Salem code regarding signs and the procedures for land use applications.
- Consideration of an intergovernmental agreement with Oregon’s Department of Transportation to work on regional scenario planning as part of the State’s Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities.

How to participate in the meeting

The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person at the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE, and also can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish.

Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting.

Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net. Or preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth