County approves solid waste and recycling rate adjustments; reduced‑rate customer program grows

The Washington County Board voted June 17 to adopt 2025 rate adjustments for solid waste and recycling collection after staff and the Garbage & Recycling Advisory Committee reviewed hauler financial submittals and system costs.

Staff recommended increases designed to restore the system to a target 10% return on revenue. The board approved a 6.5% increase in typical residential collection rates and a 7.2% increase for commercial cart/container services; drop‑box and compactor services were not adjusted. Staff said those percentage increases translate to roughly 18¢ per month (about $1.80 annually) for the average residential customer.

The board also directed staff to pursue a code change to increase the hauler certificate fee from 3% to 4% of gross receipts for certificated haulers; staff estimated the increase would generate about $175,000 in additional revenue for the system from implementation Aug. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, and will help offset higher disposal and processing costs, repairs and vehicle replacement expenses.

Health & Human Services staff reported expansion of the county’s reduced‑rate recycling/garbage program, administered by Community Action; year‑two participation grew to 1,333 households and staff said program costs reduced system revenues by about $343,000 in 2024. Board members and public commenters thanked haulers for service and asked staff to study rural versus urban cost differences in collection, given concerns raised by one rural hauler about higher per‑service costs.

The board approved the rate adjustments and certificate‑fee change unanimously and asked staff to bring forward requested additional analyses from the advisory committee.