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Solid waste staff propose cashless satellite centers, limits and modest rate changes to reduce shortfall
Summary
Solid Waste staff recommended making the five residential satellite convenience centers cashless, capping home visits to the Trash Pass allowance, eliminating the $10 TV fee and increasing general-fund support to cover the program deficit.
Union County solid waste officials briefed commissioners on program trends and proposed operational changes to address rising tonnage and a funding gap at the county’s five residential convenience centers.
Solid Waste staff said overall daily tonnage has risen since 2018 — commercial construction and demolition tonnage rose from about 102 average daily tons to 343 and municipal garbage from about 243 to 578 daily tons — while staffing levels remained largely unchanged. The division described a suite of proposals to contain costs and improve safety and customer experience: make the five satellite convenience centers cashless, enforce the Trash Pass volume limit (10 13-gallon bags per visit) rather than charging overage per bag, eliminate the $10 television recycling fee, and incrementally increase the general fund contribution that offsets the centers’ operating deficit.
Officials said the five satellite centers collectively cost more than $1 million annually to operate. The general fund contribution is about $650,000, leaving a shortfall around $400,000; proposed rate adjustments and the operational changes were modeled to reduce that gap by roughly $700,000 in revenue and administrative savings across the enterprise. Solid Waste staff also proposed incremental increases to commercial and C&D (construction and demolition) tiers while preserving discounts for the largest-volume customers.
Staff said eliminating cash would reduce administrative burdens and security risks associated with handling cash at remote sites; they described existing customer service practices to help residents adapt. The department also proposed further capital investments: an operations center and a second vehicle intake (weigh/veil) house to split traffic and shorten lines, and phased use of permitted landfill space for long-term needs.
Commissoners asked about policing repeated over-limit visits; staff said convenience and travel patterns make strict policing difficult, and that customer education and consistent enforcement would be the first tools. Commissioners also praised the improved public experience at the new transfer and convenience facilities and recognized solid waste staff for outreach programs and volunteer-litter initiatives.
No formal board vote on the solid-waste rate schedule was taken at this meeting; staff said they will include proposed rate adjustments in the FY‑26 budget materials and return with specific ordinance or fee changes for consideration.
