By Megan Wehring
DRIPPING SPRINGS – Dripping Springs residents will soon see increased rates for trash and recycle collection services.
Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc. provides Dripping Springs residents with trash, recycle and bulk collection services weekly. In the Contract and Franchise Agreement with the city, Waste Connections can request a rate increase up to one time annually based on an increase in “fuel costs, taxes, fee or regulations.”
Because elevated inflation has become an issue for all industries, Waste Connection made a request on May 10 for an 8.5% in rates for residential services. This is based on an increase in fuel, wages and equipment.
“We have done our best to mitigate the effects of rate increases from our vendors, higher fuel costs, and higher employee wages by remaining as efficient as possible in our daily operations,” said John Harris, District Manager for Waste Connections.
The Dripping Springs city council then approved the rate increase request at its June 7 meeting.
“Nobody likes increases, I hate them,” said Travis Crow, council member. “But I do understand the cost of business with gas, tires and the whole nine yards. I think a lot of us are self-employed businessmen who understand it. It doesn’t mean that we have to like it but it’s what’s fair. We can’t ask you to lose money by servicing our community.”
The 8.5% rate increase is in line with changes to the US Consumer Price Index over the past year, according to the city of Dripping Springs.
The new prices will be staggered as the summer bills go out. For 95-Gallon Solid Waste Collection, the price will increase from $13.75 to $14.92 and the 95-Gallon Recycle Collection (which is optional) will increase from $5.50 to $5.97.
Residents in need of any updates to their services are encouraged to contact Waste Connections’ local customer service department at 512-282-3508 or [email protected].
