Manteca’s monthly garbage rate increase to $63.07 per household will now go into effect in four stages.
That’s because the postponing of a rate hike protest hearing to Aug. 15 meant the new rates weren’t in place by mid-July.
As a result, the $34.33 charge for the universal 96-gallon cart that everyone will be switched to will go from the current $34.33 a month to $50.92 on Nov. 16 instead of the $47.41 a month charge that would have gone into effect in mid-July.
That means the rates will be at $50.92 a month through Dec. 31. 2024.
Then, during the next three years, rates:
*On Jan. 1, 2025, the rate will go up $3.76 to $54.68.
*On Jan. 1, 2026, the rate will go up $4.04 to $58.72.
*On Jan. 1, 2026, the rate will go up $4.35 to $63.07.
Originally the plan had been to start at $44.41 for the second half of this year and then go to $50.92 on Jan. 1, 2023.
Barring a majority of the City Council gets cold feet, the rate hikes are essentially a forgone conclusion.
The only way that they could be blocked is if more than 11,500 ratepayers — essentially 50 percent plus one of all household and business with solid waste collection — submit written protests on Aug.15 at the 6 p.m. City Council meeting.
The state rule changes means cities have to start collecting for all services they provide.
That means the end to free second, third and even fourth carts for green waste as well as up to three free 32-gallon kitchen size bags of extra garbage collection the city implemented to allow people a way to get rid of waste from large events and/or during the holidays.
But given the city is switching to weekly collection of yard/organic waste and recyclables from the current every two weeks, all residential customers will have 52 pickups of 96 gallon green carts a year instead of the current 26.
That means those that currently need two green carts a week should be able to get by with the weekly collection and avoid having to pay a $20 a month surcharge for a second green cart.
Those that need more green waste collection than the weekly cart would need to pay $20 a month for each additional green cart.
If you would like to take advantage of being able to set out three additional 32-gallon garbage bags during the course of a year, it will cost you $50.58 after Nov. 16 for what is now a free service.
That said, the switch to weekly collection of all three carts comes as the city is preparing to be able to restore recyclable items that in recent years have been banned due to issues with contamination making it hard to secure buyers.
The camera system the city will deploy as part of the rate hike will be able to zero in on violators using GPS with time and date stamps to slap penalties on those that contaminate any of the three carts with items that are supposed to be placed in another cart.
Peni Basalusalu, who oversees the city’s solid waste division, said the sweeping new state laws regarding reducing the amount of solid waste municipalities can landfill also requires that all services to cover the actual cist.
The only exception are those who meet the senior low-income standards that will be paying $25.45 a month starting Nov. 16 instead of the $50.92 other households will pay. Eventually the low-income senior rate will reach $31.53 on Jan. 1, 2027 as opposed to the basic rate at $63.07.
All residential customers will have three 96 gallon carts — one each for recyclables, yard/organic waste, and garbage. There will be no exceptions, even for low-income seniors.
Other rates included:
*$50 fees to dump a cart that has been put out late and therefore missed from being collected..
*$50 plus time and materials to pick up refrigerators or freezers.
*$80 for damaged cart replacement plus time and materials.
*Service can be suspended during prolonged vacations for $120.
*Computers, TVs, monitors and such will be free to dispose of if brought to the solid waste office. If picked up at residences, there will be a time and material change applied.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email; dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
