Trash Rate Changes Clarified

The change in trash rates for the Sidney area means all customers will be billed at the same rate per yard of trash, according to Sidney City Manager Ed Sadler. That also means residential customers will see a slight increase to their month bill, an increase of about $2 per month above the current cost.

Effective in September, trash will increase. All solid waste customers will be billed according to the same rate per yard, Sadler said recently. The new price will be $18.50 per yard. He said the size of trash can in most residential areas equals about three-fourths of a year. Therefore, residents will be charged $14 plus $6 per pick-up. That is how residential customers will experience a $2 increase, he said. He said historically residential customers have paid more than their fair share. He added rates have not changed for 10 to 12 years.

Business customers will see an increase also, based on the size of the receptacle and the frequency of service. He defined commercial customers as “downtown and everybody else.”

“Some of these people were charged as little as $18 and others as much as $100,” he said.

He added that downtown routes will change from five times a week to three: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. However, if a businesses generates enough trash for additional service, more can be requested.

“We pick it up on the frequency you want,” he said. “Each time you’re picked it costs $6.”

Sadler said there are downtown businesses who share receptacles, and others who could. He said rates are increasing, but business owners do have some control of their costs, by how they manage their trash. The City will continue to provide receptacles for recyclable cardboard.

His goal is to eventually get rid of the 300 gallon receptacles. However, that will likely not happen until much later when the City can budget the investment.