Bloomington looking to increase bulk waste fee

Posted on March 9, 2015

Bloomington alderman will vote Monday on charging $50 for every load of bulk waste removal. (WJBC file photo)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington's city council will decide Monday whether to increase the amount the city charges for bulk waste removal.

"We call it a bucket load because we have a front end loader that workers load that on," said Assistant City Manager Steve Rasmussen. "We have previously given the first bucket free and every subsequent bucket (charged) $25. That is the essence of the problem."

Rasmussen explained the amount being charged for removing this waste is costing the city $3.5 million a year. This is leading to a $2.5 million deficit in the solid waste fund.

"The only way that can be made up is the council has subsidized that by general fund money," said Rasmussen. "The problem is the whole city's general fund is balanced, but it does not have that $2.5 million to subsidize solid waste."

The proposal is to charge $50 for every bulk waste removal. Rasmussen said the city is not proposing to change the amount charged for regular garbage removal.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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