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York County solid waste update: officials propose modest fee increase, seek recycling compliance
Summary
County staff briefed supervisors on solid waste operations and a proposed FY‑26 rate change intended to close an operating shortfall; staff also described outreach and recycling contamination challenges and options for contract savings.
Brian (county staff) and Solid Waste staff updated the York County Board of Supervisors on March 4 about operations, outreach and a proposed fee adjustment for FY 2026 intended to close an operating shortfall.
Staff said solid waste is an enterprise fund intended to be self-supporting and that operating expenses have outpaced revenues in recent years. Increased contract costs, inflation, higher participation in the senior discount and greater collection volumes contributed to the gap. The county currently serves roughly 17,000 homes in the curbside program; last year about 500 households stopped combined garbage-and-recycling service and switched to garbage only after a fee change.
To avoid a projected deficit and reliance on general fund transfers, staff presented a proposed FY‑26 fee package described in the work session as “a little over $2” per bimonthly billing cycle on average across most tiers; staff said the recommended adjustments would eliminate a forecasted $375,000 shortfall and close a portion of the senior‑discount accounting issues that had created a larger-than-expected subsidy.
Staff described substantial outreach over the past year (social media, marketing, school and market engagement) and planned on‑the‑street audits of recycling to identify contamination (wrong items in curbside bins). Officials said contamination is increasing the cost of recycling because unacceptable materials raise processing costs.
Supervisors and staff discussed options to reduce costs or change service levels, including varying container sizes, reduced pickup frequency, contract design choices to encourage competition, and improved education targeted at households that place nonrecyclable items into recycling bins. Staff described plans to put the curbside trash contract out for bid in the coming year; curbside recycling contract expires later and will be renegotiated when its term ends.
No formal rate ordinance or board vote was taken at the work session; staff said the proposed fee changes will be included in the FY‑26 budget proposal and will be brought back for formal approval with the budget.
