By Barbara Augsdorfer, editor for the Effingham Herald

Despite Councilmember Jeremiah Chancey’s assertion that rates “could go down by $2 or $3 a month,” the Guyton City Council approved a slight rate increase in its residential trash pickup rates at its April 8 regular meeting.

Chancey’s prediction of a rate decrease stemmed from the city deciding to discontinue recycling pickup and giving residents the “opportunity to choose their level of service” meaning one garbage cart or two.

The city said it opted to discontinue recycling pickup because Waste Pro had increased its rates 30% for both services. Waste Pro was going to increase dry waste pickup to $18.83 per month, and $6.83 for recycling or a second cart.

Now, instead of paying the old rate $14.74 for one trash cart per month and $4.74 for a second cart, the Guyton City Council approved the rate of $16 for one trash cart and an additional $5 for a second cart, if a resident desires.

Councilmember Theodore Hamby, who was not present at the March 11 city council meeting, objected to the higher rates.

“Are we paying less than Springfield?” Hamby asked. His argument contended that Guyton’s population is less than Springfield’s, so the trash rate should be lower.

According to Georgia Demographics (www.georgia-demographics.com) 2024 population estimates for Springfield and Guyton are 3,284 and 3,241 respectively – or statistically even.

“Springfield is $14 for trash service and $7.50 for each additional unit,” Chancey said. However, according to its website, Springfield’s rate is now $18.74/month for one cart. A second cart is $11.03 as of July 2021. Springfield also contracts with Waste Pro.

“We’re currently paying Waste Pro $14.47 for dry waste pickup; so, this will give us (the city) a dollar (per unit) for dry waste pickup,” Chancey added, contradicting what he previously wrote on Facebook regarding the city charging more than what contractors charged for services.

Chancey wrote on a Facebook post, “The goal is always to ensure what we collect pays for services provided and not just another way to collect more revenue,” when challenging former Mayor Russ Deen regarding what the city charged for services.

In addition to the new rate of $16 for one trash cart, the City of Guyton will charge $5 for an optional second cart.

There was some discussion about Waste Pro’s higher rate of $6.28 for a second cart, which the city reduced to $5.

“If you keep two bins, you’re seeing only a 15% increase instead of 30% that the vendor wanted to charge,” Chancey said.

“Who’s negotiating the deal?” Hamby asked.

“We did. At the last two meetings,” Chancey answered.

The new rates were approved by a vote of 4-1, with Hamby as the lone “no” vote.

By comparison, Atlantic Waste charges residents in unincorporated Effingham County $263/year for one dry waste cart and one recycling cart, or $21.92 per month, according to a county spokesperson. The City of Rincon charges residents $16.83 per month for one trash cart and one recycling cart; $9.50 for an additional dry waste cart and $3.50 for a second recycle cart.

Residents in unincorporated Effingham County and City of Rincon have residential trash pickup weekly and recyclables picked up twice a month.