Residents will pay higher fees for garbage collection in the county beginning April 1.

Arrow Disposal CEO Richard Urrutia said when his company begins curbside pickup on April 1, the monthly fee for service will increase and the terms of payment will change. County residents currently pay Advanced Disposal $16.50 per month, and rates will increase to $20.50 per month.

“Customers will pay quarterly in advance,” Urrutia said. “Service is $61.50 every quarter. Bills will be sent out the 20th of the month preceding the beginning of the quarter. This is what’s called a subscription contract, and subscription contracts are typically billed quarterly and in advance.”

Urrutia said payment would officially be late the 20th of the first month in the billing quarter, and late notices would be sent out accordingly.

Customers who consistently paying late also may face a redelivery fee if Arrow has to repossess the can.

Urrutia said the drop in the number of county residents participating in curbside garbage collection is driving the increase in rates. Officials have said that as many as 1,300 of the county’s residents are not listed as participating and paying for the service.

“The number of participants have a direct correlation of that price,” Urrutia said. “If you ever want to see the garbage rate go below $20, it needs to have increase in participation.”

County commissioners recently supplied Arrow with a narrowed down list of approximately 300 people who qualified for Social Security exemptions and the company was supplied a list of paying customers from Advanced Disposal. Urrutia said now the push for the company would be to get residents not taking advantage of the services afforded to them.

“If you’re already paying we’re not worried about you, if you’re exempt we already have you, but if you don’t have service, you’re who we want to reach,” Urrutia said.

According to Urrutia the company has already taken several steps in closing the gap of citizens not receiving service.

“We’ve done a direct mail out and we’re going to try and schedule sign up days in the coming future,” Urrutia said. “County commissioners are contemplating implementing an enrollment period just for the exemptions, as well.”

Urrutia said the company hoped to be able to supply a central location in the near future where county residents would able to sign up for service if they were not already receiving it. And, Urrutia said those who are unsure if they have service are more than welcome to come those days.