Pflugerville Council Mulls Solid Waste Collection Fee Increase

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — Pflugerville City Council members on Tuesday began considering a proposed rate increase for residential solid waste collection — a jump a little over $3 for the monthly municipal fee.

Council members scheduled a first hearing on the proposed ordinance that calls for a rate increase of $3.04 — a $1.43 jump for an extra recycle cart and a 71-cent hike for an extra trash cart, officials said in a press advisory. If approved, a second reading is set for Feb. 25, with a passed ordinance slated to go into effect on March 1.

The proposed rate change would still keep Pflugerville at or below rates charged by other cities across Central Texas, officials noted. The proposal marks the second rate increase since the city began once-a-week trash pickup and single stream recycling in 2010, city officials added.

"The trash rate increase is needed to meet increased operational costs, including higher cost of fuel and is within the terms of the city’s current agreement with Waste Connections," officials wrote in their advisory.

The proposed rate increase is as follows:

In-city

• Current: $15.90
• Proposed:$18.94

Out of city

• Current: $17.90
• Proposed: $20.94

Extra trash cart

• Current: $6.12
• Proposed: $6.83

Extra recycling cart

• Current: $2.55
• Proposed: $3.98

"The rate change would maintain current services for customers with trash pickup once a week and recycling pickup every other week," officials noted.

Residents wishing to comment on the proposed trash rate increase can do so at the city council meeting scheduled on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in city hall headquarters, 100 E. Main St., Suite 500.