New garbage contract covers part of Benson Hill annexation

The city’s proposed changes to its garbage collection and recycling programs will apply to most – but not all – of the Benson Hill area annexed in March.

The city is negotiating a new solid-waste contract with Waste Management, which, in the Benson Hill area, collects garbage and recyclables north of Petrovitsky Road. Those new residents are covered by the provisions of the new contract, which goes into effect in January.

However, those new (and existing) Renton residents south of Petrovitsky Road receive their garbage and recycling service from Allied Waste, which will continue to provide those services for seven years.

The provisions of the proposed contract apply to all other current residents and businesses in the city.

The Renton Reporter has received a number of phone calls from Renton residents regarding the proposed changes to garbage and recycle collection. The City Council will consider the new contract and the rates associated with the contract at a meeting Monday night. The public can comment on the changes.

City officials, including Linda Knight, the city’s solid-waste coordinator, provided the answers to some of the other questions, too.

• A “one-can” customer – the most prevalent in the city – will pay $18.41 a month for the service under the Waste Management contract. The charge for services in the Benson Hill area when it was unincorporated was $35.30; the frequency of service will change for those Benson Hill customers.

• Everyone must pay for a basic level of garbage collection. Residents can’t haul their own garbage (that’s against city code) and expect a break in their rates.

• Renton has had a recycling program for multi-family housing since 1993. Tenants recycle based on the services available, if any, at their apartment complex. They cannot contract for individual garbage services. Tenants or apartment owners interested in the multi-family program can contact Knight.

Garbage collection

The City of Renton will present a proposal for a new solid-waste contract to Renton City Council during the council’s meeting that starts at 7 p.m. Monday at its chambers, 7th floor, Renton City Hall, 1055 South Grady Way, Renton. The public can comment at that time. For more information on the proposed new services, contact Linda Knight at 425-430-7397, or by email atlknight@ci.renton.wa.us, or visit rentonwa.gov.

Contact Renton Reporter Editor Dean Radford at editor@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5050.

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