Troutdale council approves modest solid-waste rate increase, declines immediate rollout of compost and lockable carts

Troutdale — The City Council on Sept. 23 approved a resolution establishing revised solid-waste collection fees to restore the contracted operating margin for the city’s hauler, Waste Management, and rescinded Resolution No. 2603. Councilors voted to adopt the operating-margin adjustment only; optional services discussed — curbside food-waste collection and latching (self-locking) carts — were not added to the adopted rate schedule.

City Environmental Specialist Ryan Largura presented the rate review and options to the council, saying the proposed base increase was driven primarily by higher regional disposal costs and year-to-year operating shortfalls. "Food waste... that's looking like it'd be about 73¢ per month add on," Largura said when describing the estimated incremental cost if the council chose to add a residential food-waste service. He told the council that Waste Management’s operating margin had been about 2.9% for 2024, below the 8–12% margin guaranteed in the franchise agreement.

Council members and residents debated several options: (1) a base operating-margin adjustment to bring Waste Management within the contract…