Council Expected to Approve Garbage Rate Increases

The Millbrae City Council is tonight expected to approve a 6.41 percent increase in rates for residential garbage customers, based on the collection of a 32 gallon container.

The increase - moving rates from $27.00 to $28.73 per month - would take effect July 1 if approved.

Comparatively, San Bruno residents currently pay $23.78 for the same size garbage can; in Burlingame, the fee is $23.85.

Millbrae is in the third year of a contract with South San Francisco Scavenger Company signed in 2009. In that contract, potential rate changes are part of a declared cycle in the third year, and are based on a rate survey conducted by Scavenger of a preselected group of cities.

That survey indicated the average increase for five San Mateo County cities - Burlingame, Daly City, San Bruno, San Mateo and South San Francisco - was 16.5 percent since 2009. The average for all municipalities in the survey, which includes cities throughout the Bay Area, was 11.2 percent. The proposed 6.41 percent increase in Millbrae rates would be about half that figure.

Rates in the first two years of the current contract with Scavenger were modest; 1.94 percent in 2010, 1.65 percent in 2011.

Lifeline customers - those using a 20 gallon garbage can - would increase 87 cents per month, from $13.50 to $14.37. Commercial rates would increase between 4 and 8 percent.

Residents comprise 90 percent of the Millbrae customer base for Scavenger.

The increases in fees are estimated to increase the City's franchise fee revenues by approximately $20,000 per year. Those revenues move into the City's General Fund.

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