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Solid waste budget trims operating costs; commissioners revisit incinerator, composting and RNG options
Summary
Solid waste staff proposed lower operating costs driven by a new recycling-processing contract and improved composting; commissioners discussed longer-term options, including incineration and converting landfill gas to renewable natural gas via an RFP.
Solid waste staff told the board the department's operating-plus-personnel budget is expected to fall because of recent contract changes and program adjustments while capital obligations (including the next landfill cell) remain significant.
Gordon presented the solid waste portion of the FY2026 draft, highlighting a new recycling processing contract that the county's presentation listed at $45 per ton versus a previous contract near $90 per ton. "Our previous contract was, like, $90 a ton," Gordon said. He also said composting of yard waste and lower hauling expenses will reduce operating costs.
Commissioner Champion urged the county to study waste-to-energy incineration as a longer-term option, citing potential reductions in landfill volume and energy generation. "We could eliminate basically the recycling program because you can recycle all the metal anyway, and then you turn all the other stuff into fuel that makes power," Champion said in the workshop. He and other commissioners discussed the possibility of regional partnerships with neighboring counties to make any large facility viable.
County staff and other commissioners raised regulatory and cost questions. Gordon cautioned that emerging regulations for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) complicate incineration: "PFAS is... big topic. And, so, you know, there's upcoming regulations on that. So there's a lot of factors you mentioned, correct, about us having enough to to have an incinerator to make it worthwhile... incinerating does not get rid of the PFAS," he said.
On landfill gas and alternative revenue streams, staff said the county is preparing an RFP to solicit proposals for converting landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG) after a generation contract with Arkea was flagged for termination. "We're gonna solicit that out... to do RNG," staff said, describing an upcoming procurement process to determine cost-sharing and private-operator proposals.
Gordon noted capital needs remain substantial: the workshop materials list a new landfill cell (cell 4) cost in the tens of millions of dollars (staff referenced roughly $30,000,000 as a near-term capital item), and commissioners stressed regional coordination and grant-seeking would be required for more ambitious alternatives.
Staff will return with RFP language and additional capital and operating estimates as part of the FY2026 recommended budget process.
