Local News
Proposed landfill changes on SWC agenda
OTTUMWA — Will cardboard be banned from the landfill? Will the solid waste commission approve an increase in landfill tipping fees and start a per capita fee?
Those answers aren’t known yet but one thing is for sure — members of the Ottumwa/Wapello County Solid Waste Commission will talk about these items when they meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 108 at City Hall.
Why are changes needed? Barker-Lemar Engineering — consultants who are very familiar with the local landfill — did a 10-year financial analysis of the landfill and determined it’s losing $500,000 annually. Over a 10-year period, that loss will grow to $5.5 million.
The commissioners have approved one landfill change — increasing the fee for construction and debris materials from $30 to $48. Still on the table are increasing landfill tipping fees from $48 to $63 and/or starting a per capita fee.
“On the face of it, a landfill tipping fee increase would appear to have the least direct impact on residential customers,” said SWC Director Jody Gates. “However, there are some points to consider before increasing the tipping fee.”
Increasing tipping fees will encourage people to take waste to some other landfill that charges less, Gates said. And, an increase will also make alternative solid waste disposal methods, like composting, more attractive.
During two fiscal years (2003-05), more than 5,000 tons of waste that were previously landfilled were diverted to a local composting facility at a cost to the landfill budget of $240,000 annually, Gates said.
“While waste diversion helps save landfill airspace, this level of tonnage and revenue loss has a significant impact on solid waste operations that rely solely on tipping fees,” Gates said at the last meeting.
If the landfill tipping fees were increased by $15 per ton, this would increase Ottumwa’s residential trash collection customer’s bill an estimated 93 cents per month. Gates said the estimate is based on 9,203 customers.
A per capita fee provides an additional and consistent revenue stream for solid waste operations. Whether landfill tonnage is up or down, the per capita fee “assures some revenues are available to support daily operations, as well as future cell development,” she added.
Commissioner Steve Siegel said he wanted to make sure the per capita fee is fair for all in the coverage area, which is Wapello and Davis counties.
Commissioner Jerry Parker provided the annual increase for the small communities, if a per capita fee was used. Based upon current populations, Agency would $23.47 annually; Eldon, $24.20; Blakesburg, $24.29; Eddyville, $34.89; Chillicothe, $19.57; and Kirkville, $29.32. Rural would be $23.85 per year.
Gates said she and Janice Bain, recycling center coordinator, have talked about the impact of industry and business on landfill tonnage. The key word is “cardboard,” which isn’t heavy but is 70 percent of the trash received from commercial and industrial businesses.
SWC members have received a report on landfill bans, which included a listing of 51 Iowa landfills that have materials bans in place. Several landfills ban all recyclables.
The commission will also review a recommendation to replace one glass crusher at the Ottumwa/Wapello County Recycling Center. The center has three glass crushers and two are in poor condition, Gates said.
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
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