Commission approves landfill fee waiver for towed RVs and motor homes in community cleanup effort

The Lander County Board of Commissioners voted June 12 to waive landfill fees for motor homes and RV trailers when those units are removed by licensed wrecker services and taken to the county landfill as part of obstructed-roadway enforcement or community cleanup.

Why it matters: County staff and the sheriff’s office said towing businesses had been reluctant to accept old RVs for disposal because of landfill fees, which made enforcement of the recently adopted obstructed-roadway ordinance more difficult. Waiving the landfill fee for eligible units when transported by an authorized wrecker service removes a barrier to removal and supports cleanup efforts.

What was discussed: Sheriff’s Office representative Robert Quick explained the operational need — towing companies and the county have been discussing ways to handle abandoned motor homes and RV trailers. Commissioners and staff clarified that the waiver applies only when a licensed towing/wrecker service moves the unit to the landfill for the county; it is not a general license for private owners to dump vehicles at the landfill for free. The county discussed creating a form or process at the landfill gate to document eligible disposals and to confirm that waivers apply only to units removed under enforcement or through an authorized tow.

Vote and conditions: The commission approved the waiver motion. Commissioners asked staff to make clear to the public and the landfill operator that the waiver is not a general disposal policy; it must be processed through the approved wrecking/assessment procedure and the tow operator is responsible for haul charges.

Ending: The county will work with the landfill and licensed wrecker services to implement a documented process for qualifying vehicles at the gate and to ensure that the waiver applies only in appropriate enforcement or cleanup circumstances.