Port Townsend’s collection rates for garbage, recyclables and yard waste are likely to increase, but not until next year.

And if the City Council approves the option recommended by Public Works staff, by far less than it would under other alternatives under study.

The current rate is $10.66 per 32-gallon container every other week. Public Works Director Greg Lanning recommends the city increase to $18.43.“We’re nearing the end of a 10-year collection contract, and that’s artificially depressed any rate increases,” Lanning said. “It’s been a good deal for us, but we have to adjust to market rates eventually.”

Under this option, the city would retain Olympic Disposal, formerly known as DM Disposal, for its collections within the city limits.

If the city were instead to contract with the Utilities and Transport Commission, it would see the collection rate increase to $31.65 for the same level of service.

Lanning explained the UTC regulates the rates and services of private or investor-owned garbage companies throughout the state.

“As a city, we’re able to negotiate discounted rates from what we’d have under the UTC,” Lanning said. “So while we’re looking at an increase in rates under option 1, it’s still discounted from what you’d have under the UTC.”

Even without yard waste collection, the UTC rate would still be $24.65, while going with public utility collection instead would result in a collection rate of $20.39 per 32-gallon container every other week.

“Under option 1, all the services would remain the same,” Lanning said. “The same volumes of garbage, recycling and yard waste would be collected. Recycling would still be separated into three bins. What would be different is the new trucks and the new collection bins for garbage and yard waste, that would arrive a year from now.”

The new trucks and carts would allow automated pickup of garbage and yard waste from the curb.

“Their trucks were worn out and would have needed replacing anyway,” Lanning said. “They knew their contract with us was coming to an end, so they’ve waited before ordering the new ones.”

In addition to automated collection that should allow the Olympic Disposal employees to do their jobs faster and more quietly, the new trucks would be more fuel-efficient and not have problems such as the oil leaks on a number of the existing trucks.

“That’s less time they’d be spending in front of your house, especially by going to collections every other week,” Lanning said. “And with the attached lids, it keeps the flies down and the animals out, and ensures you won’t have to chase separate lids down the street.”

Lanning said two-thirds of the city’s current collection customers already have their collection schedules set to every other week, with the remaining third of collections weekly.

During the City Council’s April 8 workshop meeting, council member Michelle Sandoval wanted to make sure Olympic Disposal would be more attentive in preventing overflows of trash than they’ve been the past two summers.

“Even as far back as when I was mayor, we’d have problems with overflow during the Wooden Boat and Jazz festivals,” Sandoval said.

Lanning pledged Olympic Disposal would conduct collections twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays during such occasions.

A resolution is due by the City Council’s April 15 meeting, which would authorize staff to negotiate contract details, such as whether larger collection bins could be substituted with equivalent total volumes of smaller bins.