Solid Waste District No.1 proposes expansion to Green River area; commissioners call for public input

Representatives of Sweetwater County Solid Waste Disposal District No.1 presented an expansion proposal Oct. 21 that would extend the district to include western tax districts and towns such as Green River, Jamestown and possibly Granger. Dan Cheddarbock, the district general manager, said expansion would centralize disposal to a regional landfill, reduce the number of sites, enable infrastructure investments (a shredder, a materials-recovery facility, expanded household hazardous-waste collection and a tire repository) and provide economies of scale for diversion and composting.

Cheddarbock said the expansion could increase district funding by about 42% and estimated it would cost residents in the newly included communities roughly $6.96 per month under the district's current mill levy scenario. "We were looking at about a 42% increase in funding... roughly $6.96 a month to use the Rock Springs Landfill if we were able to expand in these communities," he said. Devin Brubaker, vice chair of the district board and president of the Ray Lavetto/Lavado recycling center, urged the board to consider how a co-located MRF could keep sorting and markets local and reduce hauling costs.

Commissioners welcomed the concept but stressed that expanding a taxing district raises questions about representation and whether residents should vote on a new tax. Several commissioners suggested additional outreach to Green River residents, city officials and industry stakeholders and recommended exploring multiple statutory pathways (petition, new district then consolidation, or expansion by resolution) rather than passing a unilateral resolution without broader input. No action was taken; district staff agreed to provide further financial details and to continue outreach.