AUBURN -- Businesses will be paying more over the next year to dump high volumes of solid waste at the city landfill.
Auburn City Council unanimously approved Thursday a resolution to raise rates by 7 percent for five conrtractors that use the dump. The resolution also authorizes the city to contract with two new firms and the Village of Weedsport for use of the landfill.
The contracts will charge the companies and municipalities between $38 and $44.50 for each ton of solid waste, and the contractors are each expected to dump volumes of trash ranging from 150 to 4,000 tons, depending on the contract.
The rates for local businesses and residents who use the drive-in service will remain $72 a ton, according to the resolution.
The city expects to make more than $2 million under the new, one-year contracts. A total of 44,500 tons of waste will be dumped between this month and April 2009, according to the contracts. The state Department of Environmental conservation allows the city to accept up to 96,000 tons of waste per year at its landfill.
City Manager Mark Palesh said during the meeting that the city has been trying to build its solid waste fund by making the city landfill profitable.
"We're doing well, and the fund is strong," Palesh said.
The 7 percent increase is the largest the landfill has seen in a single year, Sanitation Supervisor Michael Talbot told the councilors.
Councilor William Graney voiced his concern over the large trash trucks that drive through town and asked if the new contracts will add to that traffic.
Talbot said all but one of these companies use small trucks. The large trash trucks of which Graney spoke are heading to other destinations, Talbot said.
"None of our customers come along the routes ... that people are concerned about," he said.
Before the vote, Councilor Matthew Smith asked why city residents and local small businesses pay a higher rate than the larger contractors.
Like all landfills, those who bring in a higher volume get a price break, Talbot replied. The policy was set and can be changed by city council, he added.
The city estimates that drive-in dumpers will bring a total of approximately 7,500 tons of garbage this year to the landfill. That is less than 17 percent of the total volume for the year.
"I just want to see if we can give local haulers a break," Smith said after the meeting. "It is always the little guy who gets stepped over."
To read the full report see Friday's edition of The Citizen
The contracts will charge the companies and municipalities between $38 and $44.50 for each ton of solid waste, and the contractors are each expected to dump volumes of trash ranging from 150 to 4,000 tons, depending on the contract.
The rates for local businesses and residents who use the drive-in service will remain $72 a ton, according to the resolution.
The city expects to make more than $2 million under the new, one-year contracts. A total of 44,500 tons of waste will be dumped between this month and April 2009, according to the contracts. The state Department of Environmental conservation allows the city to accept up to 96,000 tons of waste per year at its landfill.
City Manager Mark Palesh said during the meeting that the city has been trying to build its solid waste fund by making the city landfill profitable.
"We're doing well, and the fund is strong," Palesh said.
The 7 percent increase is the largest the landfill has seen in a single year, Sanitation Supervisor Michael Talbot told the councilors.
Councilor William Graney voiced his concern over the large trash trucks that drive through town and asked if the new contracts will add to that traffic.
Talbot said all but one of these companies use small trucks. The large trash trucks of which Graney spoke are heading to other destinations, Talbot said.
"None of our customers come along the routes ... that people are concerned about," he said.
Before the vote, Councilor Matthew Smith asked why city residents and local small businesses pay a higher rate than the larger contractors.
Like all landfills, those who bring in a higher volume get a price break, Talbot replied. The policy was set and can be changed by city council, he added.
The city estimates that drive-in dumpers will bring a total of approximately 7,500 tons of garbage this year to the landfill. That is less than 17 percent of the total volume for the year.
"I just want to see if we can give local haulers a break," Smith said after the meeting. "It is always the little guy who gets stepped over."
To read the full report see Friday's edition of The Citizen
