Local Government Solid Waste Rates May Rise in Manatee County

BRADENTON — Board members considered rate increases in the tip fees and collection service fees for the County's solid waste department at Tuesday's Manatee County Commission workshop. Utility officials cited higher fuel and administrative cost as the reason.

Utilities Director Mike Gore spoke to commissioners, stating, "Tipping Fees haven't gone up since October of 2007, and Service Fees haven't been raised since November 2011."

Gore said, "Recycling is at 51 percent. We propose to be at 50 percent at the Lena Road Landfill." 

Gore told the commission that the 1,200-acre landfill processes 300 tons annually and that the facility has around 30 more years before additional property is needed.

The proposed rate will raise the average collection bill $.72 to $14.33 a month, and raise the cost of solid waste to $40.00 a ton, up $4.00 from the current cost. 

Collection in Hillsborough is currently $18.56 a month. In Sarasota, the cost is $13.29; in Desoto, $13.75.

There will be another workshop on the 22nd of September and possibly a meeting to adopt the resolutions in October. If the resolutions are voted in on November 1, 2015, the measure will be implemented.

There will be a rate resolution for Land Fill and a separate resolution for Solid Waste.