GREENWOOD -- Some Sebastian County residents can expect to pay more to have their trash collected in the near future.
The Quorum Court approved a rate increase Tuesday for residential solid waste collection and disposal in unincorporated areas of the county.
The ordinance will increase the monthly rate for each household from $15.53 to $18.01 per month. The rate includes equipment and services related to two countywide clean-up campaigns per year, and doesn't include sales tax.
In a Sept. 24 letter to County Judge David Hudson included in the meeting packet, Robert Altes of Fort Smith-based Altes Sanitation wrote the company was requesting the $2.48 per month increase due to the rising cost of landfill rates at the Fort Smith Sanitary Landfill, which have been raised three times since its last rate increase the county granted in 2018.
Rising cost of insurance, wage rate increases, and greater volume due to customers staying home also played a role in the request.
Altes said the company previously requested only one rate increase over the last eight years.
Jim Goodman, Altes Sanitation manager, said before Tuesday's meeting slightly more than 4,000 households would be affected by the rate increase.
The rate will go into effect Nov. 1.