Kennewick council reviews Waste Management contract proposal, hears potential rate increases and carted recycling plan

Kennewick City Council members discussed proposed changes to the city’s residential solid‑waste contract and possible rate corrections during a July 22 workshop presentation from city staff and representatives of Waste Management.

The most immediate issue is that the city’s current contract with Waste Management expires Dec. 31, 2025; staff and the company presented options for a contract amendment and an implementation timeline that would start in 2026. John Cowling, Kennewick’s public works director, introduced Waste Management staff Martin Nelson (stormwater/solid‑waste program engineer), Tyler McKay (Waste Management senior public‑sector manager) and Zach Stavros (senior account executive) to outline service changes, cost drivers and proposed pricing.

Why it matters: the presentation described a sizable “rate correction” driven by years of inflation and high local demand for extra carts; Waste Management estimates it is losing about $1,700,000 per year on the current service mix. Proposed changes would move the city from open 18‑gallon recycling tubs to lidded 96‑gallon carted single‑stream recycling (collected every other week), change the per‑cart pricing for additional garbage carts, and offer optional new garbage cart sizes. Council members focused on household impacts (space, ability to store large carts, fixed‑income households), effects on litter and curbside appearance, and how state legislation may force some changes.

Key proposal details and figures presented

- Recycling carts: Waste Management proposed replacing the 18‑gallon open tubs with lidded 96‑gallon blue carts for single‑stream recycling, collected every other week. McKay and Stavros said larger, lidded carts increase participation and protect cardboard and paper from weather-related contamination. McKay said current participation is about 30% and that similar conversions typically raise participation to about 70%.

- Cart pricing: The packet presented example 2026 rates for bundled garbage+recycling. The 96‑gallon base service shown in the presentation was about $32.10 per month. Waste Management proposed a new per‑cart schedule intended to “right‑size” subscriptions: a second 96‑gallon garbage cart at $9.99…