City to Improve Garbage Rate Structure

San Rafael officials will be looking to restructure garbages rates with following last month's 4.8 percent rate increase for the city and county.

A revenue shortfall in 2011 occurred due to commercial business and residences moving to smaller size cans. While the majority of San Rafael households use a 32-gallon can, 9 percent moved to a 20-gallon after cutting back on waste, according to the staff report. 

Marin Sanitary rates also increased due to adjustments to haulers’ fuel costs, and a significant increase in the amount green waste customers are putting out to the curb. Marin residents toss 250 tons of green waste per month, less now than in years past, but it costs three times more to compost and recycle waste than it does to haul it to the landfill.

San Rafael residents will now pay $1.34 more per month for a 32-gallon can.

At the Jan. 17 City Council meeting, Councilman Damon Connally referred to the act of raising rates due to people producing less waste as a "paradox of positive behavior," and questioned if the practice would act as a disincentive to people using smaller cans.

The new rate structure will look at stabilizing rates, sharing in recycling revenues and spacing out costs for programs that happen in one year, according to Economic Development Director Stephanie Lovette. The new rate program would come before the City Council in 2013.

In the past few years, rate increases have stayed around 4 percent, according to Marin Sanitary Services President Patty Garbarino.

"A lot of getting to zero waste will be all of us taking responsibly for what we produce," she said at the Jan. 17 meeting.