清废行动：固体废物处理费上调
Fees incurred to customers at the county’s Solid Waste Transfer Station could potentially increase later this year as the private operator of the facility seeks to cover increased industry costs. The transfer station, located on County Services Parkway, processes more than 90,000 tons of solid waste, according to the county’s website, and has been operated by Advanced Disposal Services(ADS) since September 2009.
For Cobb residents, there is a minimum charge of $7 for the first 400 pounds of waste materials disposed of at the transfer station, with additional materials charged $0.03 per pound. One ton(2,205 pounds) of waste would therefore incur a $55 charge. Out-of-county residents are assessed a minimum charge of $50 for the first 400 pounds of waste materials, with any overage at $0.03 per pound.
For county customers, ADS is proposing increasing the minimum fee to $10 for the first 400 pounds. “(Going from) $7 to $10 is a 42% increase. It seems small in number, but the headline will read ‘a 42% increase in the fees’,” county commission Chairman Mike Boyce said. Responded Edwards, “That’s one way of looking at it, yes sir. And we do want to work with the board. We’ve been your partner for a long, long time, and we understand those things. But the increased fees will bring good service.”
The cost increases, Lomax added, would also help as the local transfer station has seen an increase in local customers. While out-of-county customer counts have gone from about 100 a day to 25 to 30 a day, the facility sees 600 to 700 Cobb County customers a day — an increase of 25% in the last five years. The increased workload has made it “increasingly difficult” for the transfer station crew to keep up, Lomax said.
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1.What causes the fees increase for the solid waste?
A The cost of industry.
B The improved service.
C The amounts of waste.
D The government operation.
解析：选A。细节理解题。根据文章第一段第一句as the private operator of the facility seeks to cover increased industry costs可知，是其经营成本的增加导致了其价格上升，故选A。
2.How much will the out-of-county residents pay if they throw one ton of waste?
A $7.
B $50.
C $55.
D $104.15.
解析：选D。推理判断题。根据第二段第二句的Out-of-county residents are assessed a minimum charge of $50 for the first 400 pounds of waste materials, with any overage at $0.03 per pound.可知，外来居民最初的四百磅废料是50美元；超出部分（2205-400）每磅0.03美元，总费用54.15美元，因此外来居民产生的1吨废料应付104.15（50+54.15）美元，故选D。
3.What did Mike Boyce think of the increased price?
A Terrible.
B Shocking.
C Reasonable.
D Disgusting.
解析：选C。观点态度题。根据文章第三段最后一句的But the increased fees will bring good service.可知，他认为涨价能带来更好的服务，因此他认为涨价是合理的，故选C。
4.What difficulty does the station crew have?
A The low pay.
B The long distance.
C The decreasing crew.
D The increasing customers.
解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章第四段第二及第三句the facility sees 600 to 700 Cobb County customers a day — an increase of 25% in the last five years. The increased workload has made it “increasingly difficult” for the transfer station crew to keep up, Lomax said.可知，是顾客的增加导致了垃圾中转站的困难，故选D。