Miami increases solid waste tipping fees to cover rising costs

MIAMI, Okla. (KOAM) - The City of Miami has approved an increase in its Solid Waste tipping fees to cover the rapidly rising costs of waste disposal.

The Miami City Council and the Miami Special Utility Authority (MSUA) passed the fee hikes on Monday night, responding to significant cost increases incurred by the city's Solid Waste department.

The newly approved rates will take effect on November 6, 2024.

The updated charges are as follows:

• Residents : $75 per ton, with a $10 minimum (previously $55 per ton, $5 minimum)
• Out-of-town customers : $85 per ton, with a $15 minimum (previously $59 per ton, $10 minimum)
• Out-of-state customers : $105 per ton, with a $25 minimum

The increase does not affect residential or commercial trash services provided to homes and businesses within Miami.

"About 40 percent of our customers are local, while 60 percent come from out of town," said Solid Waste Manager Kevin Horn. "Some out-of-state customers drive past other landfills just to use our facility because we’ve been much cheaper."

Utility Director Derric Lollar emphasized that the new fees are designed to simply recover costs. A Wildan rate study and comparisons with nearby towns, where tipping fees range from $57.33 per ton in Vinita to $119 per ton in Republic, supported the decision.

Mayor Bless Parker explained, "We're raising these fees because we're currently losing money each month. It's costing us more to dispose of trash than we're bringing in."

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