Assembly Reduces Trash Fees

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly Members recently agreed to reduce refuse rates at the landfill and transfer sites after hearing several objections from residents. The former rate increases were intended to offset a $3.5 million deficit in the solid waste fund.

Assembly Members on Sept. 1 agreed to roll back the steep increases to more subtle increases. Assembly Member Dan Mayfield and Assembly Member Vern Halter sponsored amendments to the refuse rates. Mayfield thanked the public and his peers for working through the objections over the rate hikes.

New rates at transfer sites and the Central Landfill will go into effect October 1, 2015, as follows:

Rates at the Central Landfill will be calculated not as load sizes but as a percentage of the per ton rate.

Waiting time at the Central Landfill on the weekends can be more than an hour. Please consider dropping refuse off during the week.

Please consider separating paper, plastic, and metals at home to reduce your fees and refuse going into the landfill. “Every pound of waste that is kept out of the landfill saves the Borough .25 cents,” said Terry Dolan, Director of Borough Public Works.

The Valley Community for Recycling Solutions facility is next door to the landfill, accepting recyclable materials from Tues. to Friday from 10:30 am to 6 pm at 9465 E. Chanlyut Circle off 49^th State Street. Learn more at http://valleyrecycling.org

The transfer sites in Big Lake and Talkeetna are also accepting recyclables now.

For more information on refuse rates call Borough Solid Waste Division Manager Butch Shapiro at 861-7603 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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