City Council Approves New Contract for Waste Collection

A new, seven-year contract with Waste Management Inc. to provide collection in Kirkland and the annexation areas of Finn Hill, North Juanita and Kingsgate has been approved by the city council.

The contract for collection of garbage, recyclables and compost begins July 1 – annexation takes effect in those three areas on June 1. Currently the annexation areas are served by Allied Waste Services.

Negotiated improvements -- which could also mean a residential rate increase in 2012 -- include limited restoration of weekly garbage collection at 22 city neighborhood parks, a later morning start time of 7 a.m. in single- and multi-family areas, collection of compact fluorescent bulbs and curbside collection of bundled plastic grocery bags. Other improvements include Christmas tree collection in the first two weeks of January and the installation of solar-powered garbage compactors in the central Business District.

The city will assume the billing of annexation area customers. The negotiated rates include a 9.7% increase to WMI effective on July 1, which could translate into an increase of up to 3% in garbage bills starting Jan. 1, 2012. The City Council will consider customer rates in the fall.

Details can be found on this link to the city website.