Recyclables cost crunch boosts Woodstock trash rates
Citing rising costs for processing recyclables, the Woodstock City Council has approved a request by Waste Management to raise by 50 cents its monthly rate for residential trash services.
The monthly solid waste/recycling fee for residential customers will rise to $11.19 from $10.69, effective July 1.
Waste Management’s costs have been impacted by new China policies restricting imports of recyclables, according to a presentation to the council. China previously had taken more than a quarter of the world’s recyclables, including more than half of paper and plastics.
As a consequence of the restrictions, an oversupply of recyclable materials has depressed prices. Waste Management’s processing costs have increased to $59.50 per ton as of this spring compared with $29 a ton in July 2016.
The monthly cost to handle recyclables out of Woodstock have risen by $4,774. With 9,642 households in the city, that works out to 50 cents per customer.
