Council finally signs off on Waste Management rate hike

A small rate hike for Waste Management has been approved for Woodland residents after more than a month of complaints and negotiations.

The 56-cent a month increase for 2021 will, however, come with a “credit” to ratepayers that could be 1.50% as a means of acknowledging that service provided by the multi-billion dollar, national firm has consistently delivered poor service because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 56-cent hike will cause the average household rate to climb from $33.90 to $34.46.

Woodland’s City Council approved the increase on Tuesday night under its consent calendar, meaning there was minimal discussion. The meeting was conducted via Zoom teleconferencing.

There were two public comments on the issue with both individuals asking the increase be rejected based on the poor service by the company.

However, Woodland Mayor Tom Stallard said “justice had been done,” in reporting the credit that will be coming. Previously, Stallard had criticized the trashcollection company for its poor service as well as its lack of local management.

Stallard was echoed by another critic of the company — which also collects recyclables and green waste — for not just its lack of service but lack of communication as well.

Former mayor and now councilman Rich Lansburgh said Tuesday that he had been part of “productive” negotiations that led to “a favorable outcome for our ratepayers in the city.”

The remarks were in contrast to those made at two previous meetings, where councilmembers — reflecting city residents at large — slammed the firm for cutting back on its service without any prior announcement.

Waste Management, like many firms both locally and nationwide, has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic with some staff contracting the virus. That, in turn, led to two-week isolation for those who may have come in contact with the infected. The culmination of people out with the virus and people out on quarantine had led to a 50% reduction in service since June 2020, according to city officials.

That didn’t seem to matter to many residents who complained to the council about unswept streets along with rotting green waste, and late pickup of trash and recyclables.

Two weeks ago, the council voted unanimously to hold off on approving the 56-cent per month rate hike for 2021 as it’s obligated to do each year, instead telling a representative for the firm to go back to his corporate officials and ask to delay the fees in view of the financial hardship being caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In December, the council also held off on approving the otherwise routine increase due to the company’s poor service.

Other rates already approved included “tipping fees” at the Yolo County Landfill, which increased its rates for trash and green waste disposal along with other hikes that cover the disposal of construction and demolition materials. The council has accepted that increase because it’s outside the control of Waste Management.

Two weeks ago, council members told a representative of the firm to go back to his bosses and work something out, despite promises of better communication and “vouchers” and demands the company forego its annual Consumer Price Index increase because of the effect COVID-19 has had on the local economy and on local families, who have lost jobs and income.

At that time, Lansburgh said the CPI increase wouldn’t mean much to the company and maybe not much to the average consumer, but it would be a welcome gesture, particularly since Waste Management was reporting it would make billions in profits nationally.

Stallard noted that he wasn’t hearing so much about the rate hike but the loss of service, including Toters which were falling apart

“I’m not hearing about a modest increase from residents,” Stallard continued, agreeing that the 56-centa-month increase was minimal. “What I am hearing about is the loss of service.”

Stallard ended the rebuke noting that if the company was going to continue reducing its service and treating Woodland poorly it might be time to look elsewhere for a company that could.