Garbage and recycling fees to increase

WAUPACA – A resolution was passed at the Dec. 2 City Council meeting to increase the garbage and recycling rates for 2026.
Justin Berrens, the Director of Public Works, said per city ordinance the council must approve a resolution to increase the rates each year and without the resolution the rates stay the same.
The ordinance 17-2021, that Berrens is referring to was adopted and went into effect Jan. 1, 2022.
The necessity of the slight increase for these services is due to an agreement signed with GFL, who handles the garbage and recycling for the City of Waupaca.
The agreement will span five years, with a 3 percent increase every year, and an additional surcharge should diesel fuel surpass $4 per gallon.

For every $.25 that fuel raises about $4 per gallon the cost of service will increase 1 percent.
In 2025 it was $15.87 a month for garbage and recycling services, with an additional $11.21 per month charge for each additional refuse bin and $4.66 for each additional recycling bin.
Those numbers will increase to $16.35 a month for garbage and recycling services, $11.55 per month for each additional refuse bin and $4.80 per month for each additional recycling bin.
According to the resolution, the city signed an agreement to span 2022 through the end of 2026.
Residents will see the increase take effect Jan. 1.