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Council to discuss committing city's waste stream after private buyers expand in county
Summary
Councilors said a venture-capital firm has bought regional waste firms and may undercut county transfer rates to capture tonnage; members asked staff to put a discussion on the next agenda about committing Washington Terrace's waste stream to Weber County for a decade or longer.
Council members raised concerns about private companies buying regional waste operators and the potential local consequences during the Oct. 7 meeting.
One councilor described recent purchases of local waste firms (Robinson Waste and Econowaste) by a private investor and said the buyer could undercut the county transfer station rate to attract large tonnage. "When companies like this take over transfer stations and take over landfills, all they want is tonnage," a council member said, adding that private firms may cut some services that are less profitable, such as green-waste drop-off and public wood-chip sales.
Speakers warned that initial low rates can later rise once a company controls capacity and that surrounding cities could face dumping or higher long-term costs. A city official said Weber County is seeking firm commitments from cities and asked the council to put a formal discussion on an upcoming agenda about committing a longer-term waste stream agreement to the county.
Council agreed to add the topic to the agenda within two weeks so members can consider options, including committing the city's waste stream to Weber County for at least a decade. No final commitment or vote was taken at the Oct. 7 meeting; staff were asked to prepare details for a future discussion.
