Recently I was asked by an E-Forum reader why his garbage bill went up 10 times the Consumer price Index increase. Here”s why:

There are two parts to the garbage fee. The collection fee increase was passed by the City Council on January 10, 2006, Item J-1 on the agenda. The CPI increase, in accordance with Richmond”s contract with Richmond Sanitary Service was 2.8%, and the rates were increased accordingly by $0.43 to $1.31 per can, depending on size.

The big increase was a fee for the Integrated Resource and Recovery Facility (IRRF), which ranged from $5.19 to $25.37 per can, depending on size. This fee was adopted by the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Agency, which is governed by the board listed below. A further explanation is in the attached letter.

The W.C.C.I.W.M.A. is a public agency that addresses solid waste issues in West County. The agency is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of appointed members from the Member Agency’s City Councils. Public participation at meetings is welcome. For more information on Board Meetings or to request an agenda, please call (510) 215-3125.

Jurisdiction

Director*

Alternate*

El Cerrito

Letitia Moore

Bill Jones

Hercules

Ed Balico

Trevor Evans-Young

Pinole

Maria Alegria

Peter Murray

Richmond

Nat Bates – Chair, Richard Griffin, Maria Viramontes

Jim Rogers

San Pablo

Joe Gomes – Vice-Chair

Paul Morris

Contra Costa County

John Gioia – Non-Voting Ex Officio Director

Gayle P. Uilkema