Columbus City Council Approves Special Charge For Garbage And Recycling Fee

(Columbus) The Columbus City Council approved a special charge garbage and recycling fee for the 2023 budget, up $10 dollars from 2021. The City of Columbus contracts with Columbia County for automated garbage and recycling pickup for residential properties with four or less units.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Kenneth Schultz expressed concern about the cost of pickup.

“Some of the neighboring communities here pick up recycling every other week, and there was one picking it up, I heard they quit, and I don’t know why,” said Schultz. “If you could check into that and see which one is cost efficient for us in Columbus.”  

Schultz goes on to say that he is also concerned about the odor of the trash in nearby neighborhoods during the winter months. He would like to see trash picked up every other week during that time and hopes the city can find a cheaper method or get a discount.

During the discussion of the special fee, city administrator Kyle Ellefson added some context to the topic.

“I think the only thing I would add is that the contract for garbage and collection and acted on and we are locked in for next year’s collection.”   

Ellefson says that the contract for special fee is just to make sure the funding is covered by special charge for the collection. The adoption of 2023 budget is set for November 15th.