Published: June 27, 2008 10:29 am      

Business, costs are up at solid waste agency

CLINTON — Because the amount of commercial waste being brought to the Clinton County landfill is up substantially, the board of directors has increased the fee paid to the contractor, Progress Contracts, for handling it.

The original contract called for the operator to be paid $300,000 per year for handling up to 18,000 tons per month. That was $16 to $17 per ton.

Now, however the amount of incoming waste is running at 24,000 tons per month. As a result, the landfill board voted June 13 to pay the contractor $10 per ton for anything over 18,000 tons.

The increased payment is retroactive to Feb. 1.

Part of the increased business is because Allied Waste, Inc., is now bringing trucks to the landfill instead of dumping at a transfer station in Clinton and then taking it to Illinois. The transfer station site was lost to the U.S. 30/67 renovation.

“There is a definite advantage to keeping Clinton County waste in Clinton County,” Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency Director Brad Seward said. “It generates revenue for the landfill.”

Seward also sees the increased business at the landfill this way:

“Solid waste is kind of a forgotten industry. If there is economic growth, solid waste will feel it. If there are more buildings and more people throwing things away, it’s gotta come here. I think there’s a definite correlation between renovation and potential growth. This may be a sign that something is happening.”

The board also hired an additional part-time staff member to work at the recycling center and free up someone for general site work.

Other business

• Recent heavy rains pushed the leachate collected at the landfill to 560,000 gallons in May and 527,000 gallons to mid June, according to Seward.

The discharge of 1,000,000 gallons to the city of Clinton’s water treatment plant was within a contract with the city, but “Even with that, the pond is probably half full again,” Seward said.

• The board approved changes to the charge for collection of electronic waste. New fees are: All computer monitors and TVs up to 20 inches, $10; TVs over 21 inches $25; large copiers and computer servers, $10; other residential items considered e-waste, no charge; other business items considered e-waste, $5.

Seward pointed out the computers and televisions contain metals, mercury and pressurized gas, which can explode if crushed at the landfill.

“We collect them here and transfer them to Midwest Electronics in central Iowa,” he said.