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Saugatuck Council reviews Republic Services five‑year rate proposal, recycling pickup increase
Summary
At a Sept. 4 workshop, Saugatuck officials reviewed a five‑year service and rate proposal from Republic Services that would raise the year‑1 household rate to $20.50 and add more frequent recycling pickup; council discussion included survey results and comparisons to neighboring Douglas.
Saugatuck City Council examined a five‑year service and rate proposal from Republic Services during a Sept. 4 workshop, including a proposed year‑one household rate of $20.50 and a move to bi‑monthly recycling pickup.
City Manager Cummins presented resident survey results showing 159 responses: 70% of respondents said they were very satisfied or satisfied with current trash collection, 12% were neutral and 18% dissatisfied. Cummins said Republic would increase recycling to bi‑monthly to meet the most requested service improvement and noted Republic is willing to offer annual household hazardous waste disposal, though customers would need to travel to Holland; the county has recently offered such a service at no cost.
Republic’s proposal would set the year‑1 rate at $20.50 — described in the presentation as 28.3% higher than current rates — with annual increases of 6% thereafter. The proposal’s year‑1 rate is $2 per month higher than rates in the neighboring City of Douglas and, according to the presentation, remains lower than a 2022 competitive bid Douglas received from Arrow Waste that combined trash and recycling at $26.25 per month. Rear‑yard service would increase from $15 to $20 per month under Republic’s proposal.
Resident Christine Murphy‑Pierce provided public comment on the rate item during the meeting. Council reviewed the comparative pricing and service changes; no formal action or vote on a contract was recorded at the workshop.
