Task force hears staff recommend modest increases to septage and hauled‑waste fees amid PFAS concerns

Staff briefed the task force on septage and hauled-waste rate considerations, market behavior and environmental concerns tied to contaminant levels. Salem's current septage rate is 16 cents per gallon; staff proposed 17 cents in 2027 and 18 cents in 2028 to align with market comparisons.

On hauled waste, staff described regional market shifts where other jurisdictions raised rates or stopped accepting certain wastes. The presentation flagged PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as a contentious issue in hauled waste and noted the city had restricted some haulers to half their annual output — roughly 20 million gallons — while other facilities' capacity and contract timelines remain uncertain. "We are currently at 16 cents per gallon as you can see comparable cities," a presenter said when describing the septage rate comparison. Staff asked the task force whether it should require higher pretreatment standards from haulers or adjust fees to reflect disposal costs and market availability.