GR garbage rates to increase

Solid waste rates charged to Green River residents will increase in 2022 according to Michelle Foote, site manager for Wyoming Waste Systems.

Through the city’s contract with Wyoming Waste Systems, the company can increase its prices based on increases in the Consumer Price Index, an average of costs consumers pay for goods and services. Between Sept 2020 and Sept. 2021, the CPI rose 5.4%. Additionally, Foote said Solid Waste District No. 1, which landfills garbage from the city, also plans to increase its rates 10% to all customers outside the district in November.

All in all, Foote said the company will eat the 10% increase in November and December, then raise its commercial and residential rates 6.6% in January.

Residents using the city’s solid waste transfer station will also see an increase in fees, from $71.18 per ton to $82.47 per ton as a result of the district’s fee increase.

Usage of the transfer station has declined from 2020 numbers, which Foote said was due to people being stuck at home throughout 2020 and likely cleaning out unwanted items from their homes.

Year to date, 2200 have used the transfer station, which Foote said is a decline in 52 users from last year. Of that number, 372 have disposed of more than 1,000 pounds of refuse, a number that is 131 users lower than what was recorded in 2020. Additionally, 104 users surpassed the 1,800-pound threshold, which is 25 users lower than in 2020.

The average amount of trash residents have discarded at the transfer station is 559 pounds, which is down 93 pounds from 2020.

Foote also said the transfer station will close early Oct. 23 to allow workers to attend the celebration of life for Gabe Kellum, a WWS employee who died Sept. 22. The station will close at 2 p.m.