Section 16-203. Charges

a. The rates for use of facilities provided by or
  for the department shall be fixed by the  board  of  estimate  upon  the
  recommendation  of  the commissioner, who shall require persons assigned
  to such facilities to pay such rates.
    b. The rates shall be sufficient, when added to other  waste  disposal
  and resource recovery revenues and to the value to the department of its
  proportionate   use   of  all  facilities  comprising  the  solid  waste
  management system of the city, as determined  by  the  commissioner,  to
  provide   for   all   expenses   of  transportation,  land  acquisition,
  construction,    equipment,    operations     including     enforcement,
  administrative and insurance costs, maintenance, expansion, replacement,
  financing and reasonable reserves therefore and any other costs that may
  be  required for the financing or completion of facilities, equipment or
  land to be used for furnishing  solid  waste  management  services.  The
  commissioner  may  from time to time recommend and the board of estimate
  may prescribe changes in rates, provided  that  such  changes  shall  be
  based  on  changes  in  the  cost  of  furnishing solid waste management
  services.
    c. The rate for each facility may be fixed so as to vary according  to
  volume,  location  of facility assignment, or weight, type, character or
  difficulty of storing, processing or disposing of the  solid  waste,  or
  other factors relating to economic efficiency or allocation of resources
  and  may  not  discriminate  between  classes of users. The commissioner
  shall state the  basis  for  establishing  such  varying  rates  in  the
  commissioner's recommendations to the board of estimate.
    d.  The  commissioner shall notify by mail all persons assigned to use
  facilities of the first meeting of the board of estimate  at  which  any
  resolution  fixing or changing such rates is scheduled to be considered.
  Such notice shall be mailed at least thirty days prior to such board  of
  estimate  meeting  and shall include the proposed rates or rate changes.
  Failure to provide such notice shall not affect  the  validity  of  such
  rates.
    e.  The  commissioner  may  collect  charges  in  such  manner  as  he
  determines shall minimize burdens and costs of the department,  provided
  that  the  commissioner shall also consider burdens and costs of persons
  assigned to facilities.