Midland Approves Trash Rate Increase

Even though a lot of statistics show that we're coming out of the recent recession, many people are still pinching pennies. And if you're one of the thousands that has your trash picked up on a regular basis...you're about to pay a little bit more because Midland City Council members have approved a trash rate increase.

"Until last year, it hadn't been changed since '99, so we waited too long to change and the fund is actually negative. So we're at the point of having to rebuild the fund so we can open more cells at the landfill and continue to pick up trash," Stuart Purvis, Director of Utilities, said.

In other words...the fees had to be raised. No one likes taking out the trash, but it's just something we need to do. In the same respect, Midland needed to raise it's fees to continue picking up the trash that we take out. Why? Because the service they provide is getting more expensive.

"We have to make enough money to buy trucks and pay for containers and drivers, and the city has grown, and that area has grown, and everywhere the city is growing is the farthest from the landfill so it's a longer haul," Purvis said.

In addition to all that, the last cell the city opened at the landfill cost $3.5 million, which is just another reason why the trash rate has gone up. But don't worry...Midland's not charging any more than other cities in our area, even with the recent increase.

"All residential customers don't have a choice. They have to use the City of Midland for trash pickup, so their rates will go from $13.50 to $15.50 a month," Purvis said.

If you're like some people who haul your own trash out to the landfill and pay by the ton...that rate went up too. It's now $28.25 per ton, and all the new rates go into effect on October 1^st.