ASHLAND — Trash pickup rates for Ashland residents and business owners will increase by 17% in July, city officials said.
Starting July 1, bills for trash pickup will increase to $20.75 per month. Current rates sit at $17.75, a price that has hasn’t changed since July 2021.
Jason Counts, the city’s services director, said the rate hike won’t change “the level of service provided to businesses or residents” and curbside collection will continue.
Rumpke’s landfill tipping fee increases are driving the rate hike, officials have said.
“Rumpke has adjusted its landfill costs annually, with another 3% base price increase for the city effective Jan. 1, 2025,” Counts said.
He added that the trash pickup and recycler increased its fees for the city by 4% in 2024; 3% in 2023; 2.5% in 2022; 2.5% in 2021; 2% in 2020 and 4.5% in 2019.
Rumpke was not immediately available to comment. But landfill tipping fees are increasing across the U.S. because of stricter environmental laws and government regulations, landfill capacity issues and rising operational costs, according to trade associations.
More increases to trash pickup rates in Ashland are expected.
Counts said he is “still assessing the full extent of our costs to determine any further adjustments needed.
But “this increase is a critical step toward sustaining high-quality service our community relies on,” he said.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said city officials will revisit the service’s fee structure at the end of 2025. He said the city will likely consider implementing another small increase at the start of 2026 to keep up with rising costs.
The city considered raising rates in 2023, but never did. In fact, city trash pickup fees have only increased by 13% over the last eight years.
“That’s unsustainable. Now, we’re getting to the point where we’re going to be upside down in no time,” Miller said.
The mayor said the reason is simple: “We did not want to raise the fee” at a point in time where all costs — utilities, fuel, groceries — have steadily risen.