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Department of Solid Waste disposal fee to increase

The Pinellas County Department of Solid Waste’s disposal rate for municipal solid waste, commercial waste and yard waste will increase by 6.8% on Oct. 1, 2023 — from $47.75 to $51 per ton. The increase is the second of a three-year rate increase plan approved by the Board of County Commissioners in 2022.

In addition to the approved disposal rate increase, four other fee changes will be considered at a Board of County Commissioners meeting on Sept. 19:

  • The surcharge fee for out-of-county municipal solid waste, commercial waste and yard waste is proposed to increase from $47.75 to $51 per ton, which is in addition to the regular per-ton disposal fee of $51.
  • The flat fee for passenger vehicles is proposed to increase from $4 to $4.25.
  • The flat fee for unmodified pickup trucks and vans is proposed to increase from $11 to $11.75. Modified pickup trucks and vans will be charged the per-ton rate of $51.
  • The tire rate is proposed to increase from $125 to $150 per ton (applies to loads of five or more tires; reweigh is required).

The fees for special handling service, contractor surcharge, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and special rate for Christmas trees remain unchanged. 

The additional revenue generated from the disposal rate increase will offset future lost revenue, as the current 30-year power purchase agreement with Duke Energy will expire Dec. 31, 2024. The revenues are necessary to fund operations and maintenance expenses for the Waste-to-Energy facility, landfill and several solid waste programs.

The Waste-to-Energy facility processes an average of 2,800 tons of garbage per day while generating 75 megawatt-hours of renewable energy. In 2022, the facility processed nearly 1.7 billion pounds of garbage, reducing its volume by 90% and saving space in the county’s one and only landfill. It also generated enough electricity to power 45,000 single-family homes per day while recovering and recycling enough metal to create about 19,000 cars.

For more information about the department and the Waste-to-Energy facility, visit the Solid Waste department webpage at: pinellas.gov/solidwaste