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Westmoreland supervisors move to enforce hauler fees; residents and small haulers warn of higher costs
Summary
County staff told supervisors that third-party commercial haulers who collect payment from customers have been charging the county’s transfer station rather than paying required tonnage fees, costing taxpayers an estimated $3 million. The board signaled it will enforce existing rules; residents and haulers urged phased implementation to protect low-income and elderly customers.
Westmoreland County supervisors heard staff explain plans to enforce existing ordinance rules requiring commercial trash haulers to obtain permits and pay county disposal fees, a change officials say will stop private companies from charging the county for tonnage that should be billed to those haulers.
Donna (Emergency management) told the board the county’s transfer station is a transfer facility, not a landfill, and said commercial haulers who collect payment from customers should be charged $63.09 per ton. Donna said the disposal portion is about $39.76 per ton with additional transport charges handled by the county’s contractor. She told supervisors that in recent years the county has absorbed roughly $3,000,000 in costs that should have been charged to haulers — an amount staff equated to about 8¢ on the county tax rate.
Why it matters: Staff said the practice of third-party haulers dumping tonnage on the county account has increased costs for taxpayers. Board members said enforcing the ordinance could produce savings but acknowledged it could also impose higher monthly costs on customers of small, local haulers.
Board reaction and next steps: Supervisors thanked staff for the investigation and described the situation as a “smelly” problem that needs triage. They discussed mitigation options for vulnerable residents, including volunteer pickup help coordinated through churches or neighbor networks, and asked county administration to pursue enforcement, permit applications for third-party haulers and review of existing third-party contracts with the county’s landfill operator. One supervisor estimated customer bills could rise $25–$30 per month for some routes while staff work on a longer-term solution.
Public comments: Residents and haulers urged the board to proceed cautiously. Daniel Clark, a Placid Bay resident, said taxes should cover residential trash processing regardless of whether a resident drives waste to the transfer station or hires a hauler. Kendrick Cooper of David O Cooper Trash Service said stricter enforcement or an immediate fee would force his small business to raise rates — he estimated $30 or more per month increases — or reduce service frequency, and asked for more time and a phased approach. Frederick N. Howe III and other speakers urged the county to hold Republic Services to its contract obligations and to provide local haulers reasonable notice to adapt.
What’s next: The board directed staff to pursue enforcement consistent with the ordinance, to review pricing with the county attorney and interim administrator, and to explore measures to protect elderly and low-income residents while stopping apparent subsidization of commercial haulers by county taxpayers.
