"This is a massive, massive education," Councilmember Mike Claxton said at Longview's Oct. 8 council meeting, as The Daily News reported. "Because we're probably changing 60 years of habit in the community in terms of what they've come to expect and know."
The habit he meant is how trash has worked here. For decades the City of Longview managed the garbage contract and handled the billing itself. Under that arrangement, according to The Daily News, the city paid some of the lowest residential trash rates in southwest Washington. That arrangement ends in December. Longview is moving onto the state-regulated rate the rest of Cowlitz County pays, and it is getting there in steps. The separate bill, the new cart sizes, recycling every other week and the payment pause all follow from that one move.
The Week After Thanksgiving, in Order
Two changes overlap, and they arrive on different days. Here is the sequence from the City of Longview's Oct. 14 notice and KLOG's coverage of the council vote:
- Through Nov. 22: You can still pay your city utility bill online, by autopay or by card.
- Nov. 23 through Dec. 2: Online, automatic and credit or debit card payments are unavailable. Cash and checks are still accepted at the Utility Billing counter during regular business hours. The counter is in City Hall at 1525 Broadway Street, and Utility Billing's number is 360-442-5099.
- Dec. 1: The new 10-year garbage and recycling contract with Waste Control takes effect, and the first rate step begins.
- Dec. 3: The city's new utility billing system launches. Every customer moves to monthly billing, and the bill gets a new design.
If your autopay or saved card runs through the city, it will not carry over. Existing online accounts and saved payment information do not transfer to the new system. Autopay users will need to re-enroll, and anyone paying through their bank's bill pay will need to update their utility account information with the bank. The city asks customers to hold off for now. Everyone, including paperless customers, will get a first bill by mail with setup instructions on it.
Households billed every two months today will start getting smaller monthly bills. Because of how meter readings and billing cycles line up during the switch, the city says the first bill may come in higher or lower than expected. That first bill also won't include garbage and recycling, which move to a separate bill from Waste Control. Any drop in the December city bill reflects the trash charge moving to Waste Control's bill.
Why the Rate Moves at All
Longview's old contract with Waste Control was set to expire in April. Without a new one, The Daily News reported, Waste Control was ready to start charging the city the rates set by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission right away. The new contract splits the difference for the first year. Residents start paying the full WUTC rate for Cowlitz County on Dec. 1, 2027.
The council approved it 5-2. Mayor Erik Halvorson and Councilmember Kalei LaFave voted no. Halvorson made his case in a post that KLOG quoted: "In Longview, our homes are close together, so a truck can grab dozens of cans on a single street. Out in the rural parts of the county, trucks drive miles between houses, using more fuel and more time for every can." Claxton agreed with that point, KLOG reported, but said the council did not have much of an option. Halvorson also said he liked that the contract phases the increase in, according to The Daily News.
The Daily News published a breakdown of the proposed standard-cart figures ahead of the vote:
| Charge for the standard 90-gallon cart | Period | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trash and recycling combined today, after taxes and fees | Current rate | $27.84 |
| Trash | December 2026 through much of 2027 | $29.76 |
| Recycling, with taxes and fees | December 2026 through November 2027 | $4.50 |
| Trash | 2028 | $38.60 |
| Recycling, with taxes and fees | By 2028 | $11.67 |
| Estimated trash and recycling combined | 2028 | $50.27 |
The gap between today's $27.84 and the estimated $50.27 for 2028 is about $22 a month. That lines up with the $20 to $23 monthly increase for a typical household that KLOG reported after the vote. Recycling also gets its own line. It used to be bundled into residential trash service, and under state law both services are required in cities Longview's size and larger.
What Every-Other-Week Recycling Makes Room For
The county-standard model also comes with options the old setup didn't have. Until now, households with their own trash pickup had one cart size, the 90-gallon. Under the WUTC rate, residents can also pick a 32-gallon or 60-gallon cart. The Daily News described the smaller sizes as a way for residents to offset some of the increase.
Recycling pickup moves from weekly to every other week. According to The Daily News, the point is to free up the off weeks. Over the next three or four years, that schedule is meant to make room for yard waste and compost service on the days recycling isn't collected. "It's not going to add a bunch of additional trips to our streets and alleys," Community Development Director Nick Little said. The city also says the large shared recycling containers will eventually be phased out.
Signing before April also kept some extras the city had negotiated with Waste Control over the past 40 years. Christmas tree pickup continues. So do no-cost trash pickups from city facilities, the abandoned shopping cart program and the neighborhood drop boxes. If the city had waited until April and simply defaulted to state rates, those were not guaranteed.
Two Bills, Two Phone Numbers
"Currently, we sit in the middle," Little told the council, as The Daily News reported. Under the old contracts, city staff billed customers for trash service, and Waste Control couldn't help residential customers directly. City staff had to pass messages along for them. Under the new contract, Waste Control handles customer service, billing and late-fee collection. City staff preferred it that way because Waste Control, a subsidiary of Waste Connections, already has billing systems in place, and the change cuts work for the city's finance department.
Starting in December, which number you call depends on the question:
- Water, sewer and the city bill: City of Longview Utility Billing, 360-442-5099, at City Hall, 1525 Broadway Street.
- Garbage, recycling, cart size and the Waste Control bill: Waste Control customer service, 360-425-4302.
What Is Still Being Decided
Most of the details residents will deal with day to day haven't been published yet. The city says residents will get letters explaining the changes and service options in the coming weeks, according to KLOG. The city says Waste Control will send its own information on rates, service changes, timelines and any steps customers need to take. No start date for every-other-week recycling or for cart selection has been announced, and the yard waste and compost service is still a three-to-four-year goal.
Rates now move to the state commission's schedule instead of the council's, so some of the remaining questions go there too. At the hearing, Halvorson asked whether there would be any relief for seniors and other low-income and fixed-income households. Little said he believes the city can request relief from the WUTC, but he had few specifics, The Daily News reported. The council also added a provision to revisit whether the city's administration fees can change. The city is posting updates and FAQs on its New Utility Billing System page.
This post is general information about public rate and billing changes, not legal or financial advice. Check the details of your own account with the City of Longview or Waste Control.
Recurring costs like these feed into what a Longview home costs to own each month, and that matters when you're deciding when to buy or sell. If you'd like local numbers for your own property, the Home Performance Team can help. Request your free, personalized home valuation.
