Assembly scales back landfill rate increases

WASILLA – The Mat-Su Borough Assembly rolled back Central Landfill dump fees at its Tuesday, Sept. 1 meeting, agreeing to scale back a second round of increases that were enacted in July.

The new fee structure goes into effect on October 1. The measure gives some relief to residents who balked at a pair of rate increases – first in January and again in July.

The new rates will be $13 per cubic yard, as opposed to the $15 for a single cubic yard the assembly approved in July. The assembly also changed the per-bag rate from $3 to $2, adjusted the per-ton household rate from $125 to $120 and the per-ton construction and auto rate from $100 to $95. The per-ton household rate had risen from $86 last year to $110 in January and then went up to $125 in July.

According to the borough, the rate increases are needed to make up a $3.5 million deficit in the borough’s solid waste fund.

The rate hikes have faced strong opposition from the public, which has shown up at previous assembly meetings to complain about the dump fee increases. The amendment to reduce the July increases was brought by assembly members Vern Halter and Dan Mayfield.

The borough is also trying to encourage more people to recycle, according to a press release issued announcing the new fees, which pointed out that Valley Community for Recycling Solutions facility is located adjacent to the landfill and accepts recyclable material Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Transfer sites in Big Lake and Talkeetna also take recyclables. According to public works director Terry Dolan, the borough saves $0.25 per pound of waste that doesn’t end up in the landfill.

Starting Oct. 1, the new rates are as follows:

1 cubic yard: $13 (was $15), 2 cubic yards: $30 (was $45), 3 cubic yards: $32 (was $45), 4 cubic yards: $45 (was $60), 5 cubic yards: $60 (was $75), per bag (2 per day): $2 (was $3), per ton household: $120 (was $125), per ton construction and demo: $95 (was $100).

For more information, visit matsugov.us.