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Council renews waste-hauler contract while members warn of rising transfer-station fees
Summary
Highland renewed a one-year waste-hauler agreement with Waste Management for FY2026–27. Councilmember Smith, who serves on the North Point Solid Waste District board, warned of proposals to raise tipping fees at the transfer station that could raise city costs by roughly $100,000 including contractor increases.
Highland City on May 19 renewed a one-year solid-waste service agreement with Waste Management, extending the contract through June 30, 2027. The motion passed unanimously.
During discussion Council Member Smith (a North Point Solid Waste District board member) described regional deliberations about rebuilding an aging transfer station and proposals to raise tipping fees. He said some board consultants had proposed immediate $4–$5-per-ton increases and that Waste Management had announced a roughly 4.8% rate increase for the city's contract; combined, those moves could raise Highland's solid-waste costs by about $100,000, Smith said.
Why it matters: council members said residents should expect modest rate adjustments in coming budgets if regional topping fees and hauler increases continue. Staff said the city has a model to calculate resident garbage-rate impacts and will return to finalize any adjustment; staff estimated the per-household bill increase could be a dollar or less per month depending on final numbers.
What was said: Smith described North Point's financing challenge for a potential $40-million rebuild and subsequent consultant suggestions to increase tipping fees, but he said several municipalities were pushing back. "The facility itself is kind of falling apart and it needs to be rebuilt," he said, urging a cautious approach to immediate big increases while the board seeks alternatives.
Next steps: council approved the one-year extension with Waste Management; staff will continue monitoring district actions and return with any proposed rate changes for residents if needed.
