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Huron approves new roll-off rental and mixed-load fees for solid-waste site
Summary
The commission approved new monthly roll-off rental rates and higher charges for mixed commercial loads to cover sorting and equipment costs; Commissioner Harvey recused himself.
The Huron City Commission approved new monthly rental rates for large roll-off containers and a higher charge for mixed commercial loads at the city solid-waste site on Oct. 12.
The change aims to cover labor and equipment costs when contractors or businesses bring unsorted demolition or mixed waste. Dale Fortin, the city's solid-waste superintendent, told commissioners the city already runs 20- and 30-yard containers and has been charging pickup fees while operations were being formalized.
Fortin said the new monthly rates will be $600 for a 20-cubic-yard container and $800 for a 30-cubic-yard container. He said the site will charge $90 per ton for loads that are sorted and can go straight through the baler, while mixed commercial loads that require sorting will be charged $200 per ton plus any applicable sorting labor. Fortin said an additional labor/sorting charge averages about $110 per ton when staff must separate contaminants by hand. He also said a standard hook/haul pickup charge is $1.75 per hookup.
"If we start seeing contaminants that will damage equipment, we will have to reject those loads," Fortin said, noting the bailer and other equipment are vulnerable to concrete, steel and chemicals.
Commissioners discussed how the city will determine whether a load is mixed; Fortin said staff will use a practical approach, noting many contractors already use dividers or separate compartments and the city will work with regular commercial users to limit cross-contamination. He said the mixed-load rate is intended to encourage presorting and reduce labor-intensive floor sorting at the facility.
Commissioners voted to approve the rate additions. Commissioner Harvey recused himself from the vote, saying the change directly affects his dumpster business.
The rates will be incorporated into the city’s annual rates resolution in December and may be adjusted after the city reviews revenue and operational experience.
Clarifying details: Fortin said the $200-per-ton mixed-load rate is a starting point and that some single loads could reach substantially higher totals depending on size; the $600/$800 monthly container rates assume a weekly pickup schedule. Liquids and hazardous materials remain banned from the site under state and federal rules and will be refused.
