Every Manteca residential solid waste customer will be able to continue to request a 2-yard bin once a year free of charge to dispose of items that can’t be collected on a weekly basis after new garbage rates are adopted..

It is a service that is not offered elsewhere in the region.

That service is a $366.65 value based on the proposed new solid waste collection schedule that is the subject of a protest hearing at the Aug. 15 Manteca City Council meeting.

By Jan 1, 2027, such a 2-yard bin will go to $450.94.

That means when basic garbage rates reach $63.07 in four years, residential customers will still be able to take advantage of a one-time 2-yard bin drop off and collection each year that would cost them $450.94 otherwise by 2027.

It is one of a number of free services the city will continue to offer under the new solid waste collection rates.

Others are:

*Electronic waste collection.

*Used motor-oil collection.

*Extra cardboard drop-off.

*The annual Christmas tree pickup.

*Household hazardous waste collection

*harps and needles collection.

*Used battery collection.

*The twice-a-year Shred-It event.

The city is also planning to add council district clean-up days as well as a community re-use, reduce, recycling day that is similar to  a communitywide yard sale.

It should be noted the free bin service that must be reserved in advance, is only for overnight use as opposed to the regular service costing $366 that allows the bin to stay at a location for up to 14 days.

The rate hike is targeted to go into effect in four steps.

The $34.33 charge for the universal 96-gallon cart service that everyone will be switched to will go from the current $34.33 a month to $50.92 on Nov. 16 through Dec. 31. 2024.

Then, during the next three years:

*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.

 The other major change is all solid waste — garbage, recycling and yard/organic waste — will be collected weekly, Currently, only garbage is collected weekly while yard waste and recycling pick-ups are every other week,

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com