Marion County approves adjusted solid-waste collection rates; rural service unchanged, small urban increases take effect Jan. 1, 2026

After a public hearing on Dec. 3, 2025, Marion County commissioners approved an order to adjust solid-waste collection rates for haulers serving unincorporated areas, with changes to take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

Brian May, Public Works Environmental Services Division Manager, told the board the recommendation is based on cost-of-service analyses (COSA) submitted by the county’s eight franchise haulers and reviewed by the haulers association and a third-party consultant (Bell and Associates/Chris Bell). May said staff projects rates for 2026 after consolidating hauler data for 2024 and applying standard projections.

May highlighted two factors that shaped the recommendation: the county’s incinerator closure, which moved medical waste processing to Biomed and an out‑of‑state landfill (Idaho), and the Recycling Modernization Act (implemented July 1, 2025). May said the RMA effectively set recycling processing costs to $0 per ton versus roughly $100 per ton previously, which reduced upward pressure on curbside collection rates.

He summarized the staff recommendation: no requested increases for rural customers (residential, commercial and drop-box service), and modest increases for urban service. On residential urban accounts (standard 35‑gallon cart), May said the proposal is a 2.2% increase—about $0.70 per month (from $31.15 to $31.85). He cited smaller percentage increases for commercial accounts and an example industrial/drop-box increase (30‑yard container) of approximately 3.6, equating to roughly $7 more per billing period.

A commissioner asked whether the consultant’s original residential proposal was higher; May replied that the consultant’s original residential percentage was 4.4% and staff revised it to about 2.22% in the current recommendation.

With no public commenters signed up, the chair closed the hearing and Commissioner Wallace moved to approve an order adjusting the solid-waste collection rates as described in Exhibit A; Commissioner Cameron seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.

"The Recycling Modernization Act has bought down some of the disposal cost pressure," May said during his presentation, explaining why the recommended increases are relatively modest.

The order adopted by the board directs implementation for Jan. 1, 2026; the transcript shows the board approved the order by voice vote at the meeting.