Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board trims Saturday transfer-station service to one Saturday a month to cut costs
Summary
After reviewing Republic Services data showing an average of 4.21 loads per open Saturday (22 loads over seven months) and a per-load cost of almost $277, commissioners voted to reduce the Saturday transfer-station schedule to the first Saturday of each month to save approximately $45,000 annually.
Beaufort County commissioners agreed to reduce the Saturday public hours at the county transfer station to one Saturday per month after reviewing usage data and vendor responses.
Public Works staff reported that over seven months of tracking there were 22 loads delivered on Saturdays (an average of 4.21 loads per open Saturday), with a high of 11 and a low of zero. Staff calculated the cost of operating Republic ServicesSaturday site at $33,750 for the tracked period, which equates to nearly $277 per load.
County staff presented options after consulting Republic Services: (1) reduce the number of Saturdays the site is open (Republic would honor the $1,250/week rate regardless of how many Saturdays are provided), (2) extend weekday hours (not possible because landfill hours and DEQ permitting prohibit leaving waste on the floor), or (3) renegotiate the rate (Republic indicated the rate reflected true operating costs and declined to reduce it).
Given the vendor response and cost-per-load analysis, staff recommended terminating the weekly Saturday service. After discussion and a motion to keep a reduced level of service, the board voted to keep the transfer station open one Saturday per month (recommended: first Saturday unless it is a holiday), with the next opening to be advertised for March. Staff will continue to monitor usage reports and may revisit the decision if negative feedback or changes in usage occur.
