The city of Ogden, Utah, voted 6-1 to start a mandatory curbside recycling program. The decision was made early last week.
According to a spokesman for the city, the program will be placed in the budget, slated to be issued July 1. The city hopes to have the facility, trucks and equipment in place to begin the program Jan. 1.
The city has approximately 21,000 households. Plans call for the city to collect for recycling old corrugated, old news, aluminum and steel cans, and two types of plastics.
Residents will not see the impact of the additional fee until the program is implemented some six to eight months from now.However, they will notice a separate $1.95 increase in stormwater fees in July. That fee is mandated by the federal government and not related to recycling.
At Councilwoman Mary Hall's suggestion, the council also agreed to have the city provide optional 60-gallon cans for those who don't generate much garbage. The smaller can would decrease the basic monthly fee of $10.65 fee to $9.15. The recycling fee would be added to the base fee. Residents will also be given a chance on their utility bill to donate to a fund to help those unable to pay the increased fee.
In July, the basic garbage fee of $10.65 will also increase about 2.5 percent if the council endorses the administration's suggestion to index utility fees to stay on top of inflation.
