Aiken Proposes $3.84 Monthly Solid Waste Rate Hike to Cover Fuel Costs and Equipment Upgrades

Aiken City Council heard a pitch on April 20. They'd bump the monthly solid waste rate by $3.84. That means going from $25.21 to $29.05, according to the Aiken Standard. The cash would pay for new equipment, keep up with growth, and handle climbing fuel prices. Assistant Administrator Lex Kirkland laid out the plan at the council's work session.

The bump would pull in over $600,000 in extra revenue. Kirkland said this money would let the city fully fund a depreciation account that buys trucks and heavy equipment needed for solid waste removal, which currently faces a shortfall of around $264,000.

Residents now get weekly garbage pickup, recycling pickup every other week, and weekly yard debris pickup most months. The proposed rate would still offer better service and lower cost than private providers and other counties and towns nearby.

The city now does 50% more work with the same truck count because of improvements gained over 25 years. Changes like street-side roll cart service, biweekly recycling service, use of knuckle-boom loaders for yard debris, and the 2019 switch to automated sideload garbage trucks have made operations run smoother and faster.

The rate boost would let the city purchase two knuckle-boom loaders, hire two heavy equipment operators, and buy routing software to guide drivers through efficient routes. It would also provide a cushion to deal with rising fuel prices.

Ten approved housing developments will be completed in the coming years, adding more residents who need these services.