I'll take the bate . Where have you been the last 20 years ? Collecting refuse is no longer " unskilled labor " . Today's refuse collector in most cases must have a CDL , which isn't obtained from a Cracker Jacks box.  They have to pass a medical test and maintain an excellent driving record .They are held to a higher standard when off the job too when it comes to alcohol and drug use.They're drivers license costs five times as much as well.  They operate heavy equipment with many controls under high voltage lines and under ever changing driving conditions. Many have to pick up hundreds of stops a day .They earn they're paycheck .As for rates , 80 percent of Anchorage has the option to have refuse service or not. Charge too much and people will illegally dump they're refuse .The 20 percent that SWS services are have no choice and are at the mercy of City Hall as to what they pay and there's nothing they can do to stop it.  IF your recycling container is full every week--your a greenie.