Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Rates in Eugene
The City has been involved in setting solid waste and recycling rates since at least the mid-1960s. The City sets minimum rates for commercial, residential and drop-box collection, based on cost of service, and permits haulers to charge up to 10 percent more as a maximum rate.
The City sets rates for the incorporated area of the City of Eugene. Rates are reviewed on a regular basis, every two years. The last rate adjustment for residential rates was in 2001. For commercial rates, the last increase was in 2003. Garbage rates in the unincorporated areas in the urban growth boundary are not regulated.
Solid waste and recycling collection rates in Eugene are composed of a collection fee and a disposal/system benefit fee. The collection fee is set by the city based on criteria contained within Schedule 2 of the Administrative Rule for Solid Waste and Recycling, the Solid Waste and Recycling Rate Review Manual. Both documents are available by selecting one of the documents on the right. The disposal/system benefit fee is set by Lane County and allocated to residential container weights based on estimated weight of the container.
Residential weights are set on a progressive basis. This means there is no volume discount, and the collection rate is based on the container weight also. Service for the smaller containers is significantly less expensive than for the larger containers.
The rate for residential containers includes recycling service, yard debris collection, applicable disposal fees, Lane County fees, and compensation to the haulers for providing the recycling rebate. Commercial container rates include applicable disposal fees, Lane County fees, and recycling service. Drop box fees do not include the disposal and Lane County fees, which are determined by the actual fee at the time of disposal. The solid waste disposal fee and the Lane County system benefit fee are established by the Lane County Board of Commissioners.
