Rules committee advances container-fee increase to fund waste cleanup, youth beautification and general fund

The Committee on Rules and Judiciary voted Oct. 9 to report bill 36-0039, a measure to increase fees for containers and flat racks entering the U.S. Virgin Islands and to allocate the new revenues for waste management, a targeted youth beautification program and the general fund. The committee vote to forward the bill to the full Legislature was 4–0 with three members absent.

Sponsor Senator Angel L. Bocas Jr. told the committee the container-fee rates had not been updated in more than two decades and that the measure targets high-volume importers rather than small retailers. Under the bill as presented, a 20-foot container fee would rise from $50 to $100, a 40-foot container fee from $100 to $200, and flat racks (often used for heavy machinery and building materials) would be set at $205.

Senator Bocas said the bill includes exemptions for U.S.-made goods and essential imports that are already exempt under Title 33, Section 42 of the Virgin Islands Code (for example certain foodstuffs, medical supplies, and some agricultural inputs). He argued the per-container charge spreads the cost across many units; with typical cargo volumes the per-item impact would amount to only a few cents and would not apply to less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments.

The bill’s revenue allocation, as presented on the floor, phases in an initial split: 50% to the general fund, 25% to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority for collection and operations (sunsetting that WMA share in 2030), and 25% to a permanent youth beautification program that will employ young residents for cleanup and community-improvement projects. Sponsor and staff told the committee that after 2030 the share would change so that the general fund receives 75% and the youth program remains at 25%.

The Waste Management Authority provided written support, saying the dedicated revenue stream would be "transformative," help the authority reach a balanced budget, reduce a multiyear accounts-payable backlog and fund territory-wide beautification and modernization of waste services.

Senators expressed cautious support. Several members said they welcomed a predictable, transparent fee applied at the container level rather than ad hoc charges. The committee voted to report the bill favorably to the full body for further consideration.