Trash rate increase approved

The Green River City Council approved a request to increase residents solid waste bills from Wyoming Waste Management Tuesday night.

The move allows the company to charge an increase to residents based on an increase in a 12-month rolling consumer price index. The CPI increased by 2.3 percent, which is the increase that is expected to amount to 72 cents per month.

Councilman Gary Killpack said the increase is minuscule compared to the increases the city projected if it continued operating its solid waste division.

He said that an increase of 72 cents per year for the next decade would still amount to a lower monthly cost to residents than was projected by the end of next year.

“I think this has turned out to be a really good deal for the citizens of Green River,” Killpack said.

Councilman Allan Wilson said he had reservations about increasing the fee because of issues residents have claimed to have with Wyoming Waste Management’s services. However, Wilson said the service has addressed many of those issues and a majority of complaints he receives now involves trash cans being knocked over after they’re emptied -- something Wilson believes could be attributed to the weather. Wilson said people who have complained about the service had an opportunity to voice their concerns at the meeting, but did not show up.

Councilman Ted Barney also had reservations about the increase, saying he planned to vote against the request because of what he described as hiccups in the services provided, saying his vote would throw a hiccup back at Wyoming Waste Management.

Barney said he was also aware of discussions about offering reduced rates to the city’s veterans and senior residents, but ended shortly after the city agreed to contract with the waste management company. According to Mayor Pete Rust, those discussions are ongoing.

Wilson supports the idea of a senior discount because he believes many older residents don’t need weekly trash pickup. Using his mother as an example, Wilson said many older residents would need to have their garbage picked up every other week or even only once a month.

Residents can expect to be billed the new rate in January.