WASTE: One garbage can turns into two bills

I am writing as a Post Falls resident regarding a recent and concerning development in how solid waste services are being billed in our community. 

Like many households, I pay for garbage collection through my monthly city of Post Falls utility bill, including additional fees for an extra trash container due to family size. This arrangement reasonably implies that both collection and disposal are covered under that service. 

However, I recently received notice from Kootenai County indicating that I will now be billed separately for disposal costs if my household exceeds one standard container per week. This determination was reportedly based on information provided by the contracted hauler. 

This raises a straightforward question: Are residents now being charged twice for the same waste stream? 

If disposal costs are already embedded in municipal service fees, then layering additional county charges introduces a lack of transparency that deserves clarification. If they are not, then residents should have been clearly informed that their current payments do not represent the full cost of service. 

Equally concerning is the reliance on third-party reporting to trigger these charges, without clear explanation of how usage is measured or verified. 

This issue is not just about cost — it is about clarity, fairness, and accountability across overlapping jurisdictions. Residents deserve a clear and unified explanation of who is charging for what, and why. 

KURT NEUMAIER

Post Falls