Landfill equipment operates to remove and relocate waste.
(Photo by Tom Fisk)
Story by Angela Briggs, special to WCLU News
GLASGOW — Upcoming increases to landfill and trash collection charges are causing concern among citizens and other counties using the local dumpsite.
The Glasgow City Council approved at a recent meeting an increase to the regional landfill’s rates. The face of the rate increase seemed innocuous, and it passed with unanimous support. Few councilmembers questioned the change, which will be in place after July 1.
Though nods have been given for the increases, the recent actions double the established rates – going from about $26 per ton to $52 per ton. But the local municipal trash collection service is a small part of the population who uses the Glasgow Regional Landfill.
“For the past two weeks, I have fought tooth and nail advocating for all our customers due to the City of Glasgow increasing the landfill pricing,” according to a letter written by Lakeside Recycling employee Kristen Haynes.
Sixteen counties, including Allen, dump their waste at the landfill. Lakeside Recycling transports Allen County’s waste from a transfer station there. The station generates no money for the county.
“When we start increasing our costs even more on services that we’re providing now, it will have negative increases on all our businesses here in Allen County,” said Dennis Harper, the judge/ executive of Allen County.
The county has already submitted next year’s fiscal budget to the state for approval. The increase in waste services was not included in the budget since the actions to increase were so recent.
“We’re looking at another $300,000 out of our General Fund to operate the transfer station with the increase that we have gotten from Glasgow.”
About 100,000 tons of waste is collected and dumped each year at the landfill in Barren County.
It generates about $2.5 million, with revenues increasing during 2020 by half a million dollars. This year’s fiscal budget shows a $1.3 million deficit, however.
The city of Glasgow has purchased several pieces of large equipment and completed work on its methane exchange program the last few years. While it is customary for governments to bond this money, Glasgow has made the purchases outright, creating a significant hit to monetary reserves.
Aside from the impacts these increases make to governments and businesses, customers and residents will feel the results in the hike. Though many counties see the issue now, Harper speculates an increase in illegal dumping in Allen County due to residents’ avoidance of waste removal costs.
“They’re dumping mattresses, refrigerators, couches, and just household trash,” Harper said. “They’re dumping on county roads.”
The judge/ executive said Allen County has held a favorable relationship with Glasgow, but the recent increases will “force them to reevaluate the current situation.”
Other options for landfill services exists among counties like Hardin and Daviess, whose rates are about $34 per ton. Counties like Hart, Green and Edmonson use Glasgow’s site but exist close enough to Hardin that a change would not create a sizeable shift to their operations.
Despite rising fuel and transportation costs, counties may flake off Glasgow’s list of customers, which could cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. The landfill remains the largest source of revenue for the city.
It remains unclear whether the Glasgow Council will address the potential losses of revenue or any of the concerns from their recent decisions.
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