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Mineral County landfill proposes modest price increases, staff to weigh switch from per-yard to per-ton bio‑solids fees
Summary
Landfill staff recommended a standard 5% price increase for most services, noted higher handling costs for PCS/contaminated soils and proposed moving bio‑solids billing from $15/yard to a per‑ton system using a certified scale; commissioners asked staff to return with tonnage cost modeling.
Landfill manager Mel told the Mineral County Board on Dec. 15 that the proposed fee schedule shows a standard 5% increase across most services, with exceptions left "to stay the same" where necessary. He said the increase aims to cover rising disposal costs while discouraging roadside dumping.
Mel highlighted a material-handling change: certain contaminated soils and PCS (petroleum-contaminated soil) must now be treated like municipal solid waste and covered with soil, which raises disposal costs. "Unlike regular MSW, I have to cover [PCS oils] with soil," he said, noting limited annual volumes and strict acceptance capacity.
Commissioners pressed a pricing question that could materially affect some haulers and users: bio‑solids are currently charged by the cubic yard ($15/yard under the current schedule), but the county has a certified scale and could bill by weight. Several commissioners argued per‑ton billing would be fairer and more accurate; others warned a straight conversion could create sudden, large cost increases for some customers. Mel agreed to model per‑ton equivalents and provide tonnage-based cost comparisons.
The board also discussed wood-chip pricing (suggested increase from $5.25 to $10 per yard), recycling and electronics processing, and landfill monitoring requirements tied to state rulemaking (a referenced rule 31/ARA that could move the facility into a monitoring stage with a three‑year compliance window). Mel said a March Tier 2 test could require additional monitoring and reporting work and urged the county to track associated costs.
Next steps: staff will return with a per‑ton pricing analysis for bio‑solids and formal cost-estimate options for PCS handling and monitoring compliance.
