Howard County Executive Ken Ulman wants to raise the county?s trash collection fees to cover an expanding recycling program and the rising costs of trash collection.
Ulman said he likely will propose a $50 increase for most residents, bringing the annual trash collection fee to $225.
The fee increase, which will be part of the proposed fiscal 2009 operating budget to be released later this month, is expected to generate an additional $5 million, which can help purchase recycling bins for every county resident,Ulman said.
“I see it as investing in infrastructure,” he said of his plans to expand a pilot program started last year in Elkridge and Ellicott City.
The areas that received free recycling bins have increased recycling by 25 percent, Ulman said, which justifies buying bins for all county residents.
The county generated about $1.4 million this year by selling the collected recyclable materials to Waste Management at $55 a ton. By encouraging more recycling, county officials said they hope to reduce the overall cost of trash collection.
The fee increase also will mitigate an expected increase in trash collection costs.
In 2013, a $33-per-ton fixed-rate contract with Waste Management for collection will expire, and the rate could skyrocket. The market rate is $70 a ton and rising, Public Works Director Jim Irvin said.
Meanwhile, the County Council on Monday voted 3-2 to approve a measure enabling the county to combine the recycling and trash funds.
This allows the county to use trash revenue for the recycling program.
“It doesn?t make sense to have a fund that covers one truck that comes one day a week, and another truck that comes a few days later,” said Ulman, who sponsored the measure.
Councilman Greg Fox, R-District 5, who along with Council Chairwoman CourtneyWatson, D-District 1, voted against the change, said it was a way for the administration to raise the fee.
“I?m concerned about the intent of the bill,” he said.
The council will have the final say on the fee increase and trash and recycling funds during the budget process.
Discussions about the fees “should be had in the context of the entire budget,” said Councilman Calvin Ball, D-District 2, who voted for the measure.
