New Athens agreement raises monthly rates

NORWALK - Norwalk Council approved an amendment to the city’s solid waste franchise agreement with Athens Services on Tuesday, bringing several changes to the terms including monthly rates.

According to staff’s report, there have been several changes that have occurred which impacted the implementation of the original agreement. 

These include: 

• Closure of the Commerce burn facility

• A decrease in hours of operation at the Long Beach burn facility

• The collapse of the recycling market as a result of China’s new restriction on recycling imports

• Increase in the State minimum wage

• Significant increase in residential waste tonnage

• Significant increase in bulky item tonnage, and

• Significant increase in illegal dumping tonnage.

Under the new agreement, the terms with Athens will extend through July 31, 2028. There is also an option for the city to extend the term up to 24 months.

Notably, the change also brings an increase to monthly rates.

The residential rate increases by just over $2, now sitting at $18.90. The senior rate sees an increase of 75 cents: from $4.19 to $4.94.

The largest increase comes in the form of the new commercial rate, which increased by nearly $12 to $209.51.

A required $1.5 million performance bond has also been included in the new terms. While the agreement no longer requires Athens to maintain a local office within Norwalk, it does provide the city with $50,000 per year to provide customer service from city hall.

Athens is also still required to pay the city the 15 percent franchise fee on total rate revenues received.

Council approved the new agreement unanimously.