Sumner hears Murray's 2025 refuse-rate changes; company outlines full residential food-waste curbside program

Deputy Administrator Jeff Steffens and representatives from Murray's Waste presented the company’s proposed 2025 refuse and recycling rate adjustments to the Sumner City Council during the Jan. 27 study session.

Steffens said the city's franchise agreement with Murray's provides for two automatic annual adjustments. The first is an inflation-based increase tied to an October‑to‑October CPI index; Murray's told the council the CPI factor this year produced an 80 percent share equal to about 2.36 percent. The second is a pass‑through of the Pierce County landfill tipping fee, which Murray's said is increasing from $174.84 per ton to $184.99 per ton. Murray's also requested continuation of a pass‑through for the state Climate Commitment Act charge; Murray's told the council that fee decreased about 13.4 percent year over year, dropping the residential charge from $0.19 to $0.16 per month. The company said the adjustments would be effective March 1, 2025 and that the fee changes have been advertised as required by law.

Steve Hopkins, Murray's district manager, and Brad Smith, assistant district manager, described the company’s expanded food‑waste program. Hopkins said the district now accepts food waste in residential yard‑waste carts — “if you eat it, it can be thrown into your yard waste” — and that the residential rollout came without an added charge to customers. He added Murray's offers a commercial food‑waste service but that commercial uptake has been slower.

Council members asked about program participation and contamination. Hopkins said residential participation is increasing but education and outreach are still necessary; he reported “zero concerns with contamination so far” and said the resulting product is certified organic compost. On commercial uptake, he said a newly enacted state requirement will phase in obligations for larger food‑waste generators and that Murray's is offering favorable rates now to encourage early enrollment. He offered to provide council with the law’s schedule and additional details.

Murray's also summarized typical residential cart impacts: a widely used 65‑gallon cart was shown increasing from $51.39 to $53.29 (a $2.53 rise); a 10‑gallon service would rise by about $0.77; a 35‑gallon cart increase was shown at about $1.53 year‑over‑year. Murray's staff said specific commercial rates are more variable and depend on service level and container size.

No formal council action on the rate adjustment was recorded in the study session minutes; staff indicated the change is planned to take effect March 1 and that the matter will return to the council’s regular business meeting schedule. Murray's representatives left the council with an offer to provide additional detail about the commercial implementation timeline and the state rule schedule.