JOHNSTON — The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation recently announced in a memorandum to municipalities the solid waste disposal fee charged to cities and towns throughout the state will remain at the current rate of $47 per ton for the coming two fiscal years.

“We appreciate Resource Recovery’s decision to maintain the current municipal tipping fee rates for the next two years,” said Brian Daniels, Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns. “Municipal leaders work hard to deliver quality services while balancing budgets, and this welcome decision provides cities and towns with greater budget stability in the coming years.”

Michael Sabitoni, Chairman of Resource Recovery’s Board of Commissioners echoed these sentiments and commended the board and its staff “for working hard on a daily basis to control costs while maintaining a high level of customer service, and putting public safety and environmental protection above all else.”

In response to the accolades, Joe Reposa, the Corporation’s Executive Director highlighted the role that larger than expected commercial disposal volumes and increased commercial disposal fees played in avoiding a municipal increase. He emphasized the negative impact that higher disposal volumes have on the life expectancy of the Central Landfill and encouraged all Rhode Islanders “to help extend the value of this important state asset by reducing, reusing and recycling wherever possible.”

City Department of Public Works Director Steve Coutu, likewise, welcomed the news. He said the n was “good for all cities,” including East Providence, in providing some budgetary certainty for the next few years.

The corporation previously increased rates from $32 per to $47, which took affect during the current fiscal year. The uptick has added just under $150,000 to East Providence’s annual solid waste fee from approximately $615,000 to $760,000. However, as Mr. Coutu noted recently and during discussion earlier this year about rubbish removal, the city will see savings in other aspects of trash collection.

In May, the council approved a contract extension with existing collector MTG Disposal-MEGA Transportation for an additional five years. The city is paying $2.97 million for its rubbish and recycling collection for the first year, then see that number reduced to $2.138 million in the second year followed by fees of $2.181 million, $2.225 million and $2.269 million.

The initial payment would be an increase over the current figure by $144,000, but the total would be reduced by some $700,000 over the ensuing years. As part of the contract, the city would also increase its liability insurance to $5 million up from $1 million.