Herriman council signals shift in waste strategy: intent to withdraw from Wasatch Front district and join Trans Jordan

Herriman — The Herriman City Council on June 25 voted to pursue a new solid-waste strategy after staff reported competitive private-sector bids and negotiated membership terms with Trans Jordan Cities.

Council member Sherry introduced the item and said the city’s RFP produced two private-sector responses that showed “significant savings” for residents — council members referenced estimates of roughly 20–30% monthly savings depending on selected services. Sherry moved a resolution (R38-2025) to formalize the council’s intent to withdraw from the Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District; the motion passed. Council members noted that withdrawal would require legal and possibly legislative steps and that staff will pursue options intended to minimize resident disruption.

Separately, the council considered two related Trans Jordan Cities actions. Nathan (city staff) said Trans Jordan proposed a membership structure similar to the one used when Draper and Riverton joined: Herriman would make four payments of $100,000 beginning in the second year after joining and participate in member tipping-fee allocations that would be credited toward a membership valuation (staff cited a membership valuation of $5,520,000). Jaren Scott, executive director of Trans Jordan Cities, described the Bayview landfill and emphasized long-term access and economies of scale, saying the facility’s tipping fee was $10.50 per ton and that membership secures landfill access for many decades. Under the proposed structure, member-rate discounts would begin once the assessed membership value is repaid over a period that could be up to 15 years; any remaining balance after that period would be forgiven.

Councilors asked whether joining Trans Jordan would lock Herriman into a single landfill or expose the city to large future costs related to landfill closure or transfer-station relocations; Trans Jordan representatives said the membership model is designed to preserve competitive, low-cost disposal options and to provide multi-generational landfill access (an estimate of 80–100 years was cited).

The council approved two companion resolutions to amend the interlocal agreement and to authorize joining Trans Jordan (R39-2025 and R40-2025). Staff said the change does not instantly alter tipping fees but redirects current tipping-fee payments toward membership value and that additional steps (procurement, legal counsel, and possibly legislation) may still be required before any vendor change or final withdrawal from the existing district occurs.

The actions mark a strategic policy shift in Herriman’s approach to solid-waste services; staff will return with legal analyses and procurement next steps.