Howard

LA GRANDE — Starting in March, trash disposal is going to be a little more expensive for residents and businesses in La Grande.

During the regular session in February, the La Grande City Council voted to approve a 3.4% service fee increase for Waste-Pro.

“I would like to just make sure it got covered because transparency is very important, other than just the 3.4% increase, there were two items that (had) an increase … greater than that,” Waste-Pro’s operations manager, Darin Larvik, said.

The 3.4% bump to service fees mirrors the increase in the 2023 Consumer Price Index, Larvik said. Over the past year, Waste-Pro’s operating costs have increased across the board — including labor and equipment. While fuel costs were down 7% over the past year, Waste-Pro saw a 15% increase in labor costs.

Larvik said the cost for disposal at landfills went up by 5% last year. And the market prices for recycling decreased, which also led to a decrease in revenue.

He explained that two of Waste-Pro’s options would see a greater increase in price than 3.4% — the cost of the 300-gallon tubs and 1.5-yard dumpsters.

The 300-gallon tubs now include the cost of a wind stabilization ring, which helps to keep the containers upright and stable. The ring previously was optional for customers, which meant that some had it, while others didn’t.

“The tubs would blow over in the street and they’re in La Grande,” Larvik said. “So when you have a 300-gallon tub tip over and then the stuff blows down the street, it’s distressing.”

Now the stabilization ring is included automatically with the 300-gallon tubs, which is part of the roughly $10 price increase.

The other increase that is larger than 3.4% is for the 1.5-yard dumpster. Larvik said that Waste-Pro had not looked at the rate for the dumpster since it is a small fraction of the company’s overall picture.

“We are catching the rate up,” he sad. “It was no longer covering the cost.”

Larvik said that it was getting to the point where having multiple roll carts was similar in price to having the smallest dumpster. This increase is intended to bring the price in line with the value.

Councilors David Glabe and Nicole Howard both expressed concerns about having dumpsters outside of homes.

Glabe said he hadn’t realized dumpsters were allowed outside of homes in La Grande and suggested it might be worth reconsidering, adding that this wasn’t something he had seen in other cities.

“If you allow home businesses, you’re looking at dumpsters in front of houses,” Larvik said.

Howard’s concern centered around where the dumpsters are located and how difficult they can be to see at night since they are not reflective. Larvik replied that reflective tape could be an appropriate addition to the dumpsters.

The franchise agreement that the city has with Waste-Pro requires that any service fee increase be approved by resolution of the city council, according to City Manager Robert Strope. Councilors at the February meeting unanimously voted to approve the increase for 2024.

In January 2023, Waste-Pro increased prices by 7.1%, which followed a 12% increase in February 2022. Prior to 2022, prices had not changed since 2018.