North Lincoln Sanitary proposes 6% rate increase and outlines Recycling Modernization Act impacts

North Lincoln Sanitary representatives told the Depoe Bay City Council they are proposing a 6% increase to customer rates and warned state-level recycling rules and possible new commercial compost requirements could raise costs for all customers. The company’s representative, Tina French of North Lincoln Sanitary, told the council, “we're proposing a 6% increase.” She said the increase would leave Depoe Bay’s operating ratio above the ordinance’s target range but that the utility’s very small service population makes the ratio sensitive to modest changes in revenue. French said the typical residential 32‑gallon cart price would move from $37.83 a month to $40.10 a month. She also described the commercial picture: “your average commercial customer is a yard and a half dumpster weekly, and that'll go from $1.36 70 to $1.44 90 a month,” as stated in the presentation packet. The presentation explained the Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) will require producers to contribute funds to a producer responsibility organization; those funds will be distributed to local governments to support recycling. French described three areas where the RMA could affect Depoe Bay: per‑capita contamination reduction funding (roughly $3 per capita in initial modeling), a $77‑per‑ton glass incentive, and negotiated transport payments for mileage beyond 50 miles for jurisdictions that travel farther to processing facilities. French and colleague Lexi Hall also discussed composting: commercial compost service is more expensive than residential collection and, under anticipated state requirements (House Bill 3018 was cited during the presentation as an example of pending legislation), some restaurants and food sellers could be required to be offered compost service. French warned that commercial compost collection currently carries higher contamination and disposal costs and that those costs typically push up the overall disposal portion of rates. The company also addressed several operational topics: rising parts and labor costs, an added full‑time equivalent position to maintain route coverage, recent relief for landfill capacity after Coffin Butte (Coffin Butte Landfill) received additional permitting, and the firm’s efforts to reduce incorrectly billed cell phone lines. The presentation listed pilot and outreach efforts — including commercial compost pilots and public education about what can go in mixed compost — and announced a household hazardous waste drop‑off scheduled for July 6 (the vendor’s announcement in the meeting materials listed a July date for the event). Council later approved a resolution updating local solid‑waste fees (Resolution 510‑25) as part of routine fee adoption; the council vote was recorded in the meeting minutes. If the council adopts final rates after any public hearing or required notice, customers should expect the utility to implement the change in the next billing cycle and see materials from North Lincoln Sanitary explaining the Recycling Modernization Act changes, expanded recyclable items, and compost messaging.