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Ottumwa/Wapello Solid Waste Commission approves modified landfill rate increases, defers recycling fees
Summary
The commission approved July 1 increases to several landfill fees — including tipping, shingles and granite — after debate and a failed attempt to send refinements to a later meeting; Recycling Center rates were deferred for further review.
The Ottumwa/Wapello Solid Waste Commission voted April 23 to approve new landfill fees that will take effect July 1, adopting several changes after a tied procedural vote earlier in the meeting.
Supervisor Ziegler presented the proposed schedule of increases, which would raise the landfill tipping fee from $63 to $69 per ton and add or increase several line items. Commissioners voted 4–4 on a Batterson motion to send refinements to the next meeting; that motion failed. Councilmember Galloway then moved to approve the rates as presented with two adjustments — raising shingles to $75 per ton (rather than the $100 originally proposed) and increasing granite to the full $69 per ton (instead of the previously listed $34.50). Supervisor Teninty seconded; the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote recorded as "all ayes." The commission recorded an earlier tie vote with ayes from Batterson, Duprey, Galloway and Teninty and nays from Caviness, Hoffman, Reid and Ziegler.
Under the adopted changes, other proposed adjustments included adding a $10 per ton concrete fee, charging $18 per ton for yard waste/brush/tree debris for self-haul customers (commercial hauler yard-waste rates were proposed to increase from $33.50 to $48 per ton), and modest increases to contaminated soil and asbestos handling fees. The Recycling Center rates were not finalized and were sent to the next meeting for consideration.
Tim Buelow of SCS Engineering told the commission he had no updates beyond his written report; he noted the landfill financial assurance report was submitted April 3 and the biennial Area A inspection was submitted April 17. He also reminded members that the Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan update is due May 1, 2026, and that resolutions from planning-area members are still outstanding (three have been accepted; two remain outstanding).
The commission’s action sets a July 1 effective date for the newly approved landfill fees. The Recycling Center fee schedule and outstanding planning-area resolutions will return to the commission for further review at a future meeting.
