Starting July 1, residents and businesses in Leon Valley who utilize the standard 65-gallon bin will see their rates increase by 42 cents - from $16.75 to $17.17 per month — while those customers who use the larger 95-gallon bin will end up paying 43 cents more — an increase from $17 to $17.43 per month.

Trash pickup rates will rise next month in Leon Valley for the first time since 2018, when Tiger Sanitation began providing the service for the city.

Despite growing operational costs, Tiger delayed seeking the change — a 2.5 percent increase approved by City Council last month — out of deference to the financial struggles of residents hit hard by the pandemic, said Lee Kuhn, the company’s general manager.

“We … tried to be good partners with the city and your citizens,” Kuhn said at a council meeting May 17.

But “our diesel prices have gone up 90 percent since we started this contract,” Kuhn said. “It’s essentially a dollar per mile … to operate a truck.”

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Starting July 1, residents and businesses in Leon Valley who utilize the standard 65-gallon bin will see their rates increase by 42 cents — from $16.75 to $17.17 per month — while those customers who use the 95-gallon bin will end up paying 43 cents more — an increase from $17 to $17.43 per month.

Tiger Sanitation had sought a larger rate increase — 7.5 percent — at the May 17 council meeting to cover increasing labor and landfill costs caused by inflation — in addition to covering higher fuel prices. Kuhn said labor costs have increased by 26 percent, landfill fees by 11 percent, and overall costs by 28 percent since Tiger started its contract with the city four years ago.

No one on the council made a motion to support the 7.5 percent rate increase.

Councilman Josh Stevens said he could support a rate increase greater than 2.5 percent, but only if Tiger Sanitation agreed to make some changes, such as increasing the amount of brush pickup per residence to 20 cubic yards.

Kuhn told the council he was not prepared to change any provisions in the contract at the May 17 meeting, but he said he was willing to listen to any concerns and issues brought up by city leaders.

“We are willing to sit down with the city and hear them out,” Kuhn said.

Councilman Jed Hefner said there is frustration among residents with Tiger Sanitation over inconsistent service. In one instance, Hefner said, all his brush was picked up while his neighbor, who had the same amount of brush, was told it would cost several hundred dollars to have it hauled.

“Those are areas that we’ve commented to Tiger in the past ... areas where their service can be improved,” Hefner said.

Councilman Benny Martinez said there have been a lot of complaints from residents who say their garbage isn’t picked up for a week and they aren’t credited on their bills. Also, Martinez said, the company needs to improve its communication with residents, as some have said their phone calls to Tiger Sanitation have gone unanswered.

Kuhn said the company, to his understanding, has been quick in trying to resolve service problems with residents.

David DeKunder is a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News.