Republic Services reports 2024 improvements at La Paz County landfill, explores hauling MSW by rail

Republic Services officials told the La Paz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 20 that the county landfill finished 2024 with several capital upgrades and is exploring new revenue opportunities.

Mark Masterson, a Republic Services representative, said the operation completed work on outbound scales, a new water tower, a new tipper trailer system and a new cell. "We spent about, dollars 3,000,000 in improvements last year at the landfill," Masterson said, and he credited on-site staff for the facility’s audit recognition.

The company reported total municipal solid waste (MSW) tonnage at 19,679 for 2024, slightly below 2023’s 20,127 tons, while construction and demolition debris rose year over year. Masterson said special waste tonnage fell in 2024 after a large customer ceased operations in California but that the client had begun shipping again in 2025.

Republic Services said it is discussing the possibility of railing MSW into La Paz County as two large Southern California landfills close. Masterson said early-stage inquiries and the county’s nearby rail spur could produce a "potential $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 a year in revenue for the county," if routed here.

The presenter told the board that host fees to La Paz County under the recently negotiated contract rose to $564,388 in 2024 from $440,000 in 2023. He said Republic expects to budget for a new shop and expanded office space for 2025 and had promoted an on-site supervisor to support operations.

Board members asked for clarification on tonnage trends and past special projects; Masterson and on-site managers described seasonal shifts and one-off jobs that offset some declines. No board action was taken; the presentation was given for the board’s information.