Perry residents will see changes in their garbage and cardboard collection bills later this year after the City Council set collection rates at their recent meeting.

Solid waste pickup will increase by one dollar to $19 per month, for one pickup per week, of up to four bags each.  Additional bags after that will be charged $2.50 each.

The more significant change comes for cardboard recycling.  City Administrator Butch Niebuhr says not only did the City provide the container for storing cardboard in the past, they also picked it up for free.  That won’t be the case as of this summer.

“Now that everything is going to be changing at the garbage department and especially the recycle department because we’re going to be taking these recycles to Des Moines, we’re not going to be bundling them here and selling it because the prices have dropped out.  We need to be able to recoup those costs for being able to do that” says Niebuhr.

Niebuhr says the City is optimistic that this will be a fair solution for all involved.

“It’s, we think, a fair increase, a small increase.  We’re kind of playing it by ear and we’re hoping this works out fine and we still get people recycling the cardboard because there’s still a market for it.  These (changes) are going to be going on the July bill for June usage.  That was set up during the budget process and we’re looking for that revenue to be coming in for the next budget year.”

The cardboard pickup rates are $15 per month for a one and one-half cubic yard dumpster, emptied weekly.  Additional pickups will be charged $5 each.

Anyone with questions can call City Hall at 465-2481.