Trash collection station rates slightly increase
29 Oct 2022
Dalondo Moultrie The Seguin Gazette
The cost on the price of trash collection is rising slightly again in areas of Guadalupe County.
As part of its ongoing agreement with the county, Republic Services of San Antonio raised its rates 3% to operate trash collection stations. Guadalupe County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the increase Tuesday at its regular meeting.
“It’s a renewal of our existing contract,” County Judge Kyle Kutscher said.
Under the terms of the contract, the service provider is precluded from increasing rates by more than 3% annually. The cost for citizens dropping off a 30-gallon trash bag at the Kingsbury or Marion station will go from about $2.25 each to about $2.35 each, according to the contract.
The price of a 50-gallon drum of trash increases from $4 to $4.15. Residents will be charged an additional 30 cents per yard for loose trash or bundled trash that must be taped or bundled for a cost of about $9.80 per yard.
Bulky materials are going to $13.65 each under the new terms.
Residents should be aware of the changes but shouldn’t feel sticker shocked, Kutscher said.
“I know some individuals may see a slight increase of 10 or 20 cents on something and go, ‘Oh my God, something else is going up,’” he said. “I think it’s still fair, the county paying a portion, the citizens paying a small portion and the partner in Republic Services honoring the contract.”
The company has seen increases in costs for doing business, Kutscher said. The cost of fuel particularly has jumped since involved parties signed the original contract, he said.
The judge thanked Republic for honoring the agreement and remaining a valued partner.
Operation of the stations is a proven benefit for county residents, Precinct No. 1 Commissioner Greg Seidenberger said.
“When the collection stations were down, we saw an increase of items on the roadways,” he said. “When people had no place to dump them, they dumped them on our right of ways. With the stations down, our crews had to pick up the items.”
Still, more could be done, Precinct No. 4 Commissioner Judy Cope said. With the continued and fast-spreading growth of the county, more subdivisions means more trash and more types of items to be disposed, she said.
Cope asked the court to consider expanding collection in a future budget.
“I’d still like in the future to see addressed one day collection, if we can, on items like TV sets,” she said. “You can’t get rid of them. Batteries, you can’t get rid of them. Paint, you can’t get rid of it.”
Offering such a service will be expensive, though the court could still consider doing so, Kutscher said.
“Just speaking very, very straight forward, it’s going to cost money for us,” he said. “A contractor is not going to volunteer to take hazardous materials or items.”
Seidenberger made a motion to sign the contract and Precinct No. 3 Commissioner Michael Carpenter seconded it before a unanimous vote.
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