Smelly Trash Fee Problem Piling up for Elk Grove

Among the numerous Great Recession induced problems confronting the city of Elk Grove, a new one is quickly piling up – late garbage fees.

According to a report that will be discussed at next Wednesday’s Elk Grove City Council meeting, up to nine percent of Elk Grove’s residential solid waste customers are at least two months behind in payments. According to the report compiled by city finance director Rebecca Craig, the delinquent customers account for more $1 million in account receivables.

Although Craig’s report notes that the city eventually collects the fees through a variety of means, “non-payment rate impacts cash-flow.”

To alleviate the problem, the council is being asked to consider a variety of different measures in the future. The proposed measures include imposing deposits, the implementation of a lifeline program, charging a household hazardous waste fee for new customers not on regular service, privatizing billing services, a general fund reserve transfer to cover the cost or suspension of garbage pick-up for delinquent customers.