East Hampton proposes modest increases to sanitation fees, citing rising disposal costs

The East Hampton Town Board discussed proposed adjustments to several sanitation fees on June 9, citing rising disposal costs and the town’s reliance on out‑of‑town contractors to transport general waste.

Council member Tom outlined the changes planned for the general (non‑recyclable) waste stream: yard brush and large bulk items, including furniture and construction/demolition debris, would move from $190 per ton to $210 per ton for permitted loads; tire disposal would increase from $400 per ton to $450 per ton; and screened compost would rise from $30 per cubic yard to $35 per cubic yard. Tom said the increases are driven by what the town pays contractors who handle final disposal and transport.

Board members said the town will publish the proposed changes and that the self‑hauler permit fee will not increase to continue encouraging proper disposal. One board member said the fee changes are intended in part to shift costs to users rather than general taxpayers.

The board also discussed exploring fee relief for some groups (veterans, first responders) as a possible future step. The changes were described as reasonable by the board, and staff will proceed with the public notification process required before adoption.