Round Rock Gives Initial OK For Solid Waste Pickup Fee Increase

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS — The Round Rock City Council on Thursday gave initial approval of a 58-cent monthly increase for trash and recycling services.

The proposed ordinance was approved on first reading at the Feb. 14 council meeting. City officials explained the increase is needed to cover increased costs for fuel and operations incurred by Round Rock Refuse, the city’s service provider.

The second and final reading of the ordinance is scheduled Feb. 28. If approved, the new rate will go into effect on bills mailed out beginning March 13.

Customers will also see another change to their bills at the same time with the elimination of a 13-cent recycling “credit,” officials said. The recycling credit to customers was instituted in 2011, when the city received more than $106,000 in revenue from recyclable commodity sales following the first year of curbside recycling pickup.

"Since then, due to softening demand for recycled commodities, that revenue has declined significantly," city officials wrote on the municipal website. "The cost to dispose of recyclables has increased over the same time period. Last year, the city received less than $6,700."

The upshot: Residential customers will pay $20.97 per month, a 58-cent increase, for their weekly trash and bi-weekly recycling pickup if the ordinance is ultimately approved.

City officials noted the last rate increase for solid waste occurred in January 2018.

The monthly fee for trash and recycling services includes the following benefits for Round Rock customers:

• Weekly garbage collection and single-stream curbside recyclingevery other week.
• Up to seven additional items curbside for regular pickup (including bundled brush and bagged leaves).
• Services at the City Recycling Center,310 Deepwood Drive, including free mulch, free household chemicals and paint from recycling events, and drop-off for items that cannot be recycled
• Shred for a Paws Causeevent in March for secure document shredding.
• Household Hazardous Waste Collectionon the first Wednesday of every month from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (except holidays).
• Spring Clean Up, which consists of scheduled days for curbside pickup of furniture and bulk items in April.

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