St. Cloud to increase refuse, recycling, yard waste collection costs in 2022-23

Becca Most, St. Cloud Times
·1 min read

ST. CLOUD — St. Cloud residents will pay more to have their trash, recycling and yard waste hauled away after the St. Cloud City Council approved a motion to increase fees in 2022 and 2023.

The city will also increase its rates for special pickups and mattress disposal, as well as wastewater service charges to pay for projects and capital equipment purchases.

More: St. Cloud City Council sets public hearing for waste collection price increase

A rate increase of $2.50 per month in 2022 and 2023 will apply to residents who use the 95-gallon cart services offered by the city. The cart service rates have not been increased since their introduction in 2006, according to the city.

Special pickup rates are expected to rise from $20 to $40 for collection of up to 200 pounds, with a $20 collection fee for each additional 100 pounds. Mattresses will be disposed of for $30. The last time this fee was increased was 2005.

During a spot check, St. Cloud Public Works employee Glenn Mueller dumps each recycling cart into the back of a converted garbage truck where it's easier to see if nonrecyclables are mixed in. The city conducts spot checks to educate homeowners and keep down the cost of removing garbage from the recycling stream.
During a spot check, St. Cloud Public Works employee Glenn Mueller dumps each recycling cart into the back of a converted garbage truck where it's easier to see if nonrecyclables are mixed in. The city conducts spot checks to educate homeowners and keep down the cost of removing garbage from the recycling stream.

The City Council also approved a 40 cent and 50 cent monthly increase in wastewater service charges in 2022 and 2023, respectively, to pay for projects and capital equipment purchases. The last wastewater rate increase was in 2016.

St. Cloud has the lowest average monthly wastewater service charge per household in the St. Cloud area. The wastewater service increase will help fund $62 million worth of wastewater projects from 2022 to 2024.

The City Council set Monday's public hearing earlier this month.

Becca Most is a cities reporter with the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-241-8213 or bmost@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter at @becca_most.

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This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud to increase refuse, recycling, yard waste collection costs