Tampa, Florida, raises collection rate to pay for fleet, WTE upgrades

The city of Tampa will raise waste collection rates to finance upgrades to the city’s waste-to-energy (WTE) facility and to pay to replace aging trucks and other equipment, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

For residential customers, the monthly bill for twice-weekly collection will rise from $34.91 to $38.23 in October, with rates set to continue to climb to $54.96 in 2028.

The city has not increase rates for collection since 2015, while the cost of operations has increased 8 percent per year, according to a report by Charlotte, North Carolina-based government and utility management consulting company Raftelis.

Tampa’s Solid Waste Department serves about 90,000 residential and commercial customers. The city’s McKay Bay Waste to Energy Facility is undergoing renovations to extend the life of the facility, which burns waste to convert to energy, providing electrical power to supply electrical needs for up to 15,000 Tampa homes per month.

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Under the plan approved by City Council, the city will also increase rates for commercial waste customers, and increase fees for special services, such as return-trip charges for homeowners who miss pickup. The city offers a reduced rate to seniors and is exploring the possibility of establishing discounted rates to low-income residents.