Increases in garbage collection and disposal fees are likely coming to Escalon in 2022.

Gilton Solid Waste officials are making the rounds of cities they service, bringing their projected new fees to municipalities for consideration.

“Gilton has asked for a rate increase due to the State Mandate SB 1383. State Senate Bill 1383, Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP): Organic Waste Methane Emissions Reductions, mandates cities, including Escalon, to reduce organic material within its solid waste (recycling and garbage) stream. This means that the City is looking to Gilton to assist us in meeting these mandates,” explained Escalon City Manager Tammy Alcantor. “Unfortunately, it does require additional staffing and equipment. At the last meeting, the Council did approve their (Gilton’s) request to start the process of the increase.”

With the approval to begin the process, Alcantor said, it sets in motion several steps to be taken.

First, at the Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 council meeting, the City Council will be asked to approve the rates and contract amendments and direct staff to start the Proposition 218 process.

Staff will then prepare the Proposition 218 public hearing. This will be mailed to each ratepayer and give a 45-day notice of the public hearing.

“Staff will advertise in the local paper notice of a public hearing for November 15, 2021; at the end of the public hearing, any protest votes will be counted,” said Alcantor. “If there is no majority protest, the Council can adopt the rates.”

Basic fees for a 60-gallon can are currently $13.13 a month and would rise to $16.29, going up 24 percent, or a cost of $3.16 more than the current rate. The 90 gallon can cost would rise from $16.84 to $20; a 19 percent increase; the 90 gallon organic/green waste would see a steep rise, from $5.72 to $14.30, up 185 percent from the current cost.

Any additional cart would rise from $3.31 to $9.45, up 185 percent as well, a $6.14 increase.

For seniors, the 60 gallon rate would go up 19 percent, from $11.13 to $13.29, an increase of $2.16.

There are also proposed increases in the ‘front loader bins’ based on the size of the bin and the collection frequency, with hikes ranging from 58 to 75 percent. The lowest cost bin right now is $74.90 while the highest is $490.78; under the proposal, the lowest bin fee would rise to $118.67 per month while the highest would jump to $845.68.

The next meeting for the council will be on Sept. 7, a Tuesday, as Monday, Sept. 6 is Labor Day and city offices will be closed for the holiday.