Garbage collection rates will go up more than 25 percent in the city of Rockwood starting in July. The City Council voted unanimously last night to approve entering into a contract with Waste Connections for their garbage pickup.

Citizens are now paying $8 a month for garbage-pickup service; but once the new contract with Waste Connections goes into effect, that rate will increase to $10.50 a month.

That fee would be added to all customers’ water bills, with no way for residential customers to opt out. However, commercial customers may opt out provided they can prove they have other services to get rid of their garbage, such as a container to handle their garbage service.

Mayor Mike Miller said at the meeting Monday night the City of Rockwood could save as much as $76,000 a year by contracting its garbage service to a private company, which is why they wanted to halt municipal garbage collection.

Waste Connections representatives at the meeting said they could pick up all of the town’s residential garbage in two days a week.

This change will not go into effect until after July, when the new budget cycle begins. Despite the increase, the Rockwood garbage-collection fee will still be lower than Harriman or Kingston.