Interesting story on KHON last night about the possibility of the city charging residents a fee for trash pickup.

A 2010 report commissioned by the Department of Environmental Services shows the city could recuperate tens of millions of dollars every year by charging Oahu residents for regular trash pickup.

The study by R.W. Beck says in fiscal year 2010 the city spent more than $102.2 million to pay for refuse collection, with 34 percent of that amount coming from the general fund. If a monthly fee of $20 per month were instituted, the city could recover $43.5 million in the first year of the program. A $25 per month fee would raise $54.4 million, while a $30 fee would raise revenues of $65.2 million.

Budget Chair Ann Kobayashi, Council Vice Chair Ikaika Anderson and the mayor’s office all quickly threw cold water on the idea, so it probably won’t happen anytime soon. Still, with two of the four Hawaii counties going the route of a trash pickup fee, is it something Honolulu should consider?

Read the full story: Study examines solid waste user fee