Local landfills to raise rates by 14 percent in 2010

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Landfill fees to dispose of household garbage will rise by 14 percent in 2010 under a proposal before county commissioners.

Solid Waste Manager Wendy Mifflin told commissioners during a hearing this morning (Tuesday, Oct. 6) minimum fees will rise from $7 to $8.

That fee is for those dumping waste at landfills. It’s unclear whether that cost will be passed on to residents who have their garbage picked up curbside.

On a per-ton basis, disposal fees will rise from $28 to $32.

Mifflin said the increase is necessitated by a 7.5 percent reduction in the total amount of waste brought to the landfill system this year. Mifflin said the decline is a result of the economic downturn in which residents aren’t throwing away as much as they did previously.

Since 2006 when the landfills accepted 248,500 tons of garbage, total disposal will fall to about 230,000 tons this year.

The drop this year will result in a $500,000 shortfall in projected revenue.

She said the solid waste program also has a couple of major improvement projects coming up in about five years. The increase is an effort to build reserves to pay for expansion of the transfer station at Terrace Heights Landfill, east of Terrace Heights, and development of a transfer station at the Cheyne Landfill, north of Zillah.

Costs for those projects haven’t been developed.

Disposal of clean yard waste also will increase from $14 per ton to $16 per ton with a minimum fee of $5. The minimum fee will remain unchanged under the proposal.

Fees for disposal of tires and appliances will not change.

Mifflin said Yakima County still has the lowest disposal fees in the state. The statewide average is $84 per ton.

Benton County charges $61.33 per ton and Kittitas County charges $75.26 per ton.

Commissioners are expected to adopt the increase next week.

-- David Lester