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Century Explains $10.47 Per Month Garbage Rate Increase
February 2, 2026
For the first time in decades, a new solid waste provider will be collecting garbage and yard trash in Century, and some local residents are crying foul about a monthly rate increase over $10 for residents.
Residents were paying the town $27.44 for a single pickup per week from Republic Services, along with yard and bulk waste collection by the town on a somewhat irregular schedule. Under the new provider, Waste Pro, residents will pay the town $37.91, or $10.47 more per month. Yard waste will be collected on Tuesday in the cart with a black lid, and garbage will be collected on Fridays in the carts with the blue lid.
Friday, NorthEscambia.com held a phone conference with Century Mayor Ben Boutwell, Administrator Dave Murzin, and Clerk Carrie Moore to find out the reason for the 38% rate hike.
The biggest reason? The town said it lost $51,000 during the last fiscal year with Republic Services. The town’s “Garbage Fund” is not designed to be a money-maker, but losing money is irresponsible, officials said.
Without accepting bids, Century had continued for three decades to renew an agreement with annual increases with Republic. But in 2025, the town decided to seek an updated agreement or a new provider. Two proposals were received and ranked, with Waste Pro scoring 93.5 and Republic 72.3 out of a possible 100.
“Republic was just going to give us garbage pickup,” Boutwell said. “Waste Pro came back with garbage pickup, and also yard waste and then bulk pickup quarterly.”
It’s that bulk and yard waste collection that was really costing the town, and causing concern with a 25-year-old grapple truck and the potential inability to find parts for any timely repair that was needed.
“We were constantly doing repairs to it, and a new (grapple) truck would cost $200,000 or $300,000,” the mayor said.
“Now we don’t have to worry about the wear and tear of a truck and paying a driver with a CDL,” he said. “And keeping our employees working in the field instead of driving a truck on Thursday.” In addition, the town will save the fees that were being paid at the landfill to dump the bulk and yard waste.
Under the new agreement with Waste Pro and a higher cost to the citizens, the town projects breaking even, but not making a profit.
Boutwell said he’s been inundated with calls and visitors at town hall, around town, and even at his home, with residents expressing concern about the increased garbage rates.
“We understand that people don’t like change, but sometimes change is for the good,” he said. “But when they understand what’s going on, they know it’s for the good.”
Murzin clarified that residents can turn in their second can, which is for yard waste, but there is no discount.
“We will take the yard waste can if they don’t want it in their yard,” Moore said. “But they are not going to get a discount.”
“We’ve heard a lot of ‘we are just going to burn the leaves and the tree limbs’ and that sort of thing,” Murzin said, adding there is a burn ordinance in the town.
For more information on the new waste service in Century, click here for a previous story.
For complete information from Waste Pro services in Century, click here (pdf).
Comments
10 Responses to “Century Explains $10.47 Per Month Garbage Rate Increase”
My neighbor and I put yard trash cans out for pickup. It’s Feb. Tuesday. Company missed 1st day of pickup. Maybe with all the money they are going to save they can hire some more people to do weed eating and pickup paper this year. Last year called in 3 times about weed eating on my street never done , as a lot of other ditches around town.
So thankful that I have ECUA, My garbage can is a lot bigger than the new cans Century got. And as for the cans that pick-up yard waste, that’s a joke. Should use it for Recycle since garbage cans are smaller to help with the difference to be able to get rid of all your garbage. Just saying
Tony wrote: “:Will the fee for the yard waste that the town use to charge go away.”
We confirmed with the town — yes, that fee goes away. Everything is included in the $37.91 monthly fee, except extra cans.
Will the fee for the yard waste that the town use to charge go away.
Why couldn’t we get two trash pickup days instead of a Yard Waste can? I think that would have made the price increase worth it! Can you look around Century and tell me folks clean their yards?…NOPE!
Can everyone that has ECUA switch to this here in century I absolutely hate everything about ECUA! I can literally see the new cans y’all sent out wouldn’t be nothing to just turn right and get ours
I can empathize with Century’s residents on this one, regardless of the reasons given. My only question is, do the residents pay Waste Pro directly and if not, what is the difference in cost between whats Waste Pro is charging the city and what the city is charging the residents.
The new trash cans seem to be quite a bit smaller than the outgoing ones. It just feels as if we are paying more for less now.
Seems prudent for the town to attempt to sale the grapple truck since that service is now contracted. Any little income is better than it wasting away.
See.. I told yall so in my comment on the last article.
Thanks Ben. Good job.
Glad you cleared this up William.
Appreciate the logic and info.