Solid waste fees for the city of Laramie will increase by 3.2 to 3.5 percent. An ordinance was passed by City Council Tuesday night and will go into effect within the first quarter of this year.
Household collection monthly fees will increase 19 cents for solid waste and other drop-off fees at the landfill are fixed to increase. The ordinance passed with a vote of eight to one.
“I really don’t mind paying the extra 19 cents,” said councilmember Vicki Henry. “I am lucky that I live where they come and pick up my garbage and recycling for me.”
“We are committed to meeting mandates put out on the state and federal level,” said councilmember Paul Weaver in support of the bill. “And it takes a financial commitment to do so.”
Member of the public, Tim Hale, who says he is “a watchdog on rate increases,” opposed the ordinance. He said he believes the rate increase will cause people to not want to use the landfill and dispose of waste improperly. He also believes the landfill doe not operate appropriately.
“There is a gray cloud of mismanagement going on out at the dump,” said Hale.
Councilmember Joe Vitale gave a no-vote on the bill. He said that the 19-cent per month increase on basic household receptacle adds up to be $20,000 annually. He said he does not understand why the increase is so necessary.
“No one takes the vote because they want to increase the cost to the city rate payers,” said Weaver. “But because of a series of complex decisions.”
