Lebanon council approves 2.4% Republic Services rate increase; company proposes cutting recycling events and outlines new state recycling rules

The Lebanon City Council on Oct. 8 approved a 2.4% rate increase from Republic Services for curbside refuse service, and representatives for the franchise hauler told the council they plan to reduce the number of small recycling events in Lebanon from four to two because of very low turnout.

Republic Services presenter Julie Jackson said the company uses a refuse-rate index that weights changes in the consumer price index and landfill disposal costs. "The percentage of change is 2.2% this year, which at a weight of 65% is a 1.4% increase," Jackson said, and a 3.9% disposal increase at Coffin Butte Landfill, weighted at 25%, adds roughly 1 percentage point, producing a total 2.4% increase effective Jan. 1, 2026. City staff told the council the municipal code requires a council resolution when the hauler raises rates; the council passed Resolution 2025-18 to approve the adjustment.

Jackson also asked the council for permission to reduce on‑site recycling events. She said Republic has run four small events — a spring recycle roundup, an annual hazardous‑waste event for East Linn County, and two smaller drop‑offs the company piloted — and that attendance at the two smaller events has averaged about five people per event. "We don't feel like it's a really great use of resources to do that, when not so many people are taking advantage of those," Jackson said. She proposed keeping the spring roundup and the hazardous‑waste event and adding capacity at those two events to accept additional materials such as mattresses through the state's mattress extended‑producer‑responsibility program and larger cardboard.

On mattresses, Jackson said a mattress EPR program overseen through the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality allows consumers to bring mattresses to events at no charge; she added that consumers typically pay a disposal fee at purchase ("something like $22," she said). She invited the council to suggest sites for larger cardboard drop‑off if the city wants a permanent community collection location.

Republic Services described a small slate of charitable and in‑kind donations in Lebanon, including free waste service for the Lebanon Soup Kitchen, regular contributions to the Boys & Girls Club and support for local festivals. "We feel like in order to be a good partner, we need to make some of those donations," Jackson said, noting the company also supports county cleanup efforts in the area.

Jackson summarized the Oregon Recycling Modernization Act, which the company said took effect July 1, 2025, and which expands the list of materials acceptable in curbside recycling. She said the new guidelines allow plastic tubs and buckets up to 5 gallons, lids to remain on plastic jugs and jars, up to 10 pounds of scrap metal in carts and gable‑top milk cartons, among other items. Republic Services said expanded drop‑off depots for additional materials such as styrofoam and plastic film are planned for Linn County as part of RMA implementation, with the company estimating more depot items around 2027.

During Q&A, Councilors asked how Republic advertises events and sought detail on the company's $60,000 in cash and in‑kind community support; Jackson outlined donations made to the soup kitchen, festivals and county cleanup efforts and said Republic maintains a charitable foundation with an online application process. Jackson also expressed support for an expansion at Coffin Butte Landfill, saying she believes it would extend regional landfill life and buy time for wider regional planning.

Decision and next steps: Council adopted the rate‑increase resolution at the meeting. Republic Services said it will not implement changes to the recycling event schedule until the company has formal council approval to reduce the number of events from four to two and to expand materials at the remaining events.

Context: The presentation combined required rate‑setting mechanics, operational proposals (changes to event frequency and materials accepted), community donations and company views about the regional Coffin Butte Landfill expansion. The council's approval was procedural for the rate adjustment; any longer‑term changes to local recycling access or event scheduling would be subject to further coordination between the company and city staff.