Iowa City public works staff plans to recommend to city officials an increase in the cost per ton of refuse — or tipping fee — at the landfill, which would become effective July 1, 2012.

This will be the first landfill rate increase in 17 years. The rates were lowered in 2000, and they have remained static for the last 11 years.

If the Iowa City City Council approves the recommendation, each ton will increase by $9.50 to $48 per ton for Iowa City residents and businesses. The new price is still 50 cents cheaper than the period between 1994 and 2000.

Fuel prices and "more stringent" state and federal regulations were cited as the causes for the increase by landfill superintendent Dave Elias in a City Council information packet released Thursday.

— by Asmaa Elkeurti