As a response to the affordability crisis, the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency board voted last week to cut tipping fees and put a limit on fuel charges. According to the agency, the moves will save Ulster County residents and businesses approximately $150,000 over the next two months.

“I applaud the board in taking these actions at a time when residents are looking to the public sector for relief. The cost of groceries, gas, clothing, and other staples have gotten out of control.” UCRRA Executive Director Marc Rider said in a statement. “We will continue to contain costs where we can and pass those savings on to our customers, including Ulster County residents.”

According to the agency, getting rid of tipping fees on food waste will save the agency’s food waste partners approximately $15,000. The reduction in fees complements the rollout of the City of Kingston’s Kingston Organics program, which consists of curbside collection of food waste from its residents who have signed up to participate.

“On behalf of the City of Kingston I would like to thank the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency and its Board for supporting Kingston Organics collection program and helping to keep fuel costs as stable as possible for our communities,” said Kingston Mayor Steve Noble in a statement. “UCRRA has been a great partner in helping us reduce our solid waste and together we will continue to work on sustainable waste management solutions.”

In 2005, UCRRA adopted a fuel surcharge to protect the agency at times of high fuel costs by using a regional index to set the surcharge at a percentage of the tipping fee, the charge our customers pay for final disposal of waste. Due to an increase in direct costs such as landfill transport and disposal, the agency stated, the tipping fee has increased significantly over the last 21 years. Combined with historically high diesel prices, the agency’s fuel surcharge collections have ballooned in the past year. In recent months the fuel surcharge grew to 14.5 percent. The cutback to 10 percent will save customers approximately $135,000 over the next two months, the agency stated.

“The public has raised both of these issues in recent months, and last night the Board showed that we listen," UCRRA board chair Jim Gordon said in a statement. “As a public benefit corporation, we must always balance our needs to raise enough revenue to meet our expenses, with the requirement that we not charge our customers more than necessary. We are living through difficult times. It is incumbent upon all public agencies and all levels of government to continue to provide vital services, but also, keep costs to our residents reasonable.”