NAWILIWILI — Some say it’s the end of free trash pick-up. Others say it was never free since the subsidies for the Solid Waste Division come from the county General Fund. Regardless of how you view it, property owners will
NAWILIWILI — Some say it’s the end of free trash pick-up. Others say it was never free since the subsidies for the Solid Waste Division come from the county General Fund. Regardless of how you view it, property owners will soon pay more for the service if all goes as planned.
The Kaua‘i County Council’s Public Works Committee on Wednesday approved a new tax assessment that will soon be tagged to commercial and residential property taxes to offset the cost of trash collection.
County Engineer Donald Fujimoto said last month that the division’s estimated operating budget for next fiscal year is $12.05 million. The division receives $3.8 million from tipping fees at the Kekaha Landfill and the remaining revenue — some $8.25 million — comes from the General Fund.
When divided by the roughly 24,000 households on Kaua‘i, the actual cost of trash collection is roughly $28.65 per month per home, according to Fujimoto.
Bill No. 2367 proposes each household pay a base rate of $6 per month, plus another $6 for a 96-gallon container for areas with automated trash collections. Residents in areas that still have conventional collection would be allowed up to three 32-gallon trash containers. A second 96-gallon container will cost an extra $12 per month.
The amendment originally called for a one-time charge of $100 per cart for additional carts, but the Public Works Department asked the council to remove that component from the bill.
Perhaps the most significant change is the increase for commercial structures, transient vacation rentals, homestays, businesses and residential generators.
Those establishments currently pay $11 for one trash can, plus $6 for each additional can. If the bill becomes law, they will be charged $84 for up to three 32-gallon containers, plus $84 for each additional increment of up to three 32-gallon containers.
To receive refuse collection, however, those establishments have to file an application with the county.
The increase for those establishments will be effective after the bill is signed into law by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. The increase for residential properties will become effective July 1, 2011, if the full council passes the bill as expected next Wednesday at Council Chambers in Nawiliwli.
The county-furnished container has two large wheels, but many who testified at the County Council meeting said the 96-gallon container is too big to handle, especially for elderly citizens.
The bill says that if the provided cart for the automated trash collection needs to be replaced due to intentional damage, property owners or occupants will be charged a $100 fee.
The service fee for deactivating or reactivating services at the same residence within one year is $50.
