Landfill may increase rates for commercial users, municipalities
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Landfill rates for commercial users and municipalities will likely be increasing.
During the Chautauqua County Legislature's Public Facilities Committee meeting, a resolution was approved, which would slightly increase rates for construction and demolition, as well as municipal solid waste. The full legislature must vote before the new rates are adopted.
Aaron Gustafson, the deputy director of Public Facilities - Environment, appeared at the committee meeting and said they're looking at a shortfall in their budget. He blamed that on increasing costs of fuel, employees, environmental, engineering and equipment.
Gustafson said originally they discussed just raising the rates of transporting waste from the county's transfer stations, but decided to increase costs overall.
"To keep it simple, I went across the board and just did a $2 increase and that was to meet a mark for our 2027 budget," he said.
The new proposed rates are as follows:
TRANSFER STATION FEES
Construction & Demolition - Cubic Yard - From $65 to $67 per yd.
Construction & Demolition - Scaled Weight - From $65 to $67 per ton.
Municipal Solid Waste - Cubic Yard - From $46 to $48 per yd.
Municipal Solid Waste - Scaled Weight - From $46 to $48 per ton.
LANDFILL FEES
Asbestos - Non-friable - From $44 to $46 per ton.
Construction & Demolition - From $44 to $46 per ton.
Contaminated Soil - From $30 to $32 per ton.
Industrial Waste - From $32 to $34 per ton.
Municipal Solid Waste - From $32 to $34 per ton.
Sludge - Municipal - From $29 to $31 per ton.
Gustafson added that he is not proposing any increases to bag rates for individual users who go to the landfill.
The Chautauqua County Landfill is considered an "enterprise" fund. It does not use tax dollars to pay for its budget; it must solely rely on fees collected.
Gustafson said even with the proposed rate hikes, the county's landfill rates will still be quite low. "We're still way more competitive than anyone else around," he said.
Gustafson said he did notify both Dunkirk and Jamestown directly, since they will be affected. "I haven't gotten anything back from them. They seem on board," he said.
Gustafson also said he believes the lower rates can help attract businesses to the county. "Hopefully Mark (Geise, deputy county executive for economic development) is using that as something to draw companies and businesses, that your waste disposal fees, as long as we can accept it, will be extremely cheap comparatively," he said.
The last time the county landfill raised its rates was Jan. 1, 2024.
Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon, R-Ellery, applauded Gustafson for his work. "I think we should recognize the excellent management of the landfill that Aaron and his team do to be able to hold the expenses and revenues to support only a 3 to 7% increase in user costs," he said.
The full legislature will vote on the proposal at its next meeting on Wednesday, Nov.18.