Garbage Rate to Increase 3%, Remains Lowest Rate in Area
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2014
Novato Sanitary District’s Residential Garbage Disposal Charges are the lowest in the area.
Novato Sanitary District has approved a modest 3% rate increase for 2015, for solid waste collection and disposal services.
The District noted that its franchise waste hauler, Novato Disposal, charges customers rates that are the lowest in Marin County (see graph above), and that this year’s increase is consistent with a trend of modest annual rate increases. The rate increase equates to 56¢ per month for residential customers with a 32 gallon can who will pay
$19.08 per month in 2015, versus $18.52 currently.
“In light of the fact that we continue expanding our recycling, composting and hazardous waste programs, we are especially proud of the continued low cost of our solid waste services,” said Sandeep Karkal, Manager‐Engineer of Novato Sanitary District
Helping keep its costs the lowest in the County is a unique Zero Waste Agreement that requires Novato Disposal to provide additional recycling at no extra cost to residents. This Agreement requires Novato Disposal to achieve 80% recycling and reuse goals by 2025. By contrast, other communities in the area are increasing their garbage disposal charges to subsidize recycling.
Another aspect of the cost‐saving measures in the franchise contract is that the District requires Novato Disposal to maintain an account that smoothes changes in the resale value of recyclables over a period of five years. For example, currently, the value of recyclables—which helps subsidize some of the costs of recycling—has dropped significantly. But Novato Disposal customers are not getting a financial hit from the current low value of recyclables, as the smoothing account is making‐up the difference.
Moreover, the District itself has helped keep costs down by collecting a small administrative fee which covers only the cost of monitoring the franchise hauler, Novato Disposal, and is not used to subsidize other activities. And of course, Novato Disposal maintains efficient recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Programs that also contribute to the overall low cost.
“We are proud of the fact that the Novato Sanitary District is the first community in Marin to formally incorporate zero waste goals in a franchise agreement,” said Karkal. “In fact, we have a specific plan to achieve Zero Waste goals. In partnership with Novato Disposal, we are doing what we promised: working to make Novato a model of environmental achievements in every aspect of our work, while at the same time keeping our rates low,” he added.
For further information, contact the District at info@novatosan.com, or by phone at (415) 892‐1694.