City of Folsom garbage rates to rise

The Folsom City Council voted Tuesday to gradually increase resident and business solid waste utility rates and fees to help pay for new state organic waste diversion laws. California State Senate Bill 1383 of 20l6 is part of the state's broader effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Folsom staff said SB 1383 will cost the city roughly $4.2 million with ongoing operational expenses of about $2 million a year. Failure to comply could result in state fines of up to $10,000 per day. Due to the high cost of SB 1383 programs, staff said the rate increases needed to cover costs were as high as 22 percent for commercial users and 44 percent for average residential customers or $15.25 per month. Staff included some strategies to moderately raise rates each year to ease the impact to customers. A typical Folsom customer has a 65-gallon trash can, one recycling can and one organic can. Under the gradual plan, the current monthly bill of $34.50 for a typical residential customer will go up to $46.25 in 2022, $56 in 2023, $58 in 2024, and finally $60 in 2025. The city currently offers three free bulky waste pickups. Staff also proposed a $25 fee for bulky waste and another $15 for the Door-To-Door Hazardous Waste collection. After considerable discussion, the council however voted on the gradual fee increases, with bulky and hazardous waste collection remaining free of charge. Resident outreach efforts resulted in significant feedback from the community and a few recurring themes emerged. A desire for smaller can options and more enforcement against those who overfill cans were two concerns. The primary concern voiced by residents is related to household hazardous waste collection, officials said. "Comments indicate residents are very concerned that some will illegally dispose of HHW to avoid paying the fees, regardless of the amount," the staff report said. The council held the required public hearing and announced that no majority protest to the fees existed, thus paving the way for the fee increase. "Throughout the rate proposal process, staff has made an extensive effort to provide outreach to the community," the report stated.