C and D waste moratorium ends next week
60-day moratorium on C&D waste will end next week
With the moratorium on charges for C&D (construction and demolition) waste ending soon, Marion County Commissioners on Monday directed that bids be obtained for scales to be installed at the transfer station.
The need for scales was spurred by the fact that loads containing C&D waste must be weighed prior to being dumped at the transfer station in order to determine how much C&D waste is being generated.
Currently, solid waste is not weighed unless trash haulers pick up C&D waste on their routes. Then, the hauler must stop and weigh at the local co-op before proceeding to the transfer station.
"It's up to the collectors' discretion whether they stop and weigh or not," said Commission Chairman Howard Collett.
Commissioners indicated they had received a letter from the City of Marion asking to review certain financial information from the transfer station — specifically, weight ticket records.
David Brazil, transfer station manager, said Monday the county had collected a total of 59.76 tons of C&D waste since January. Of that, 26.73 tons were generated from the cities.
"I'll remind you this is the slowest time of the year for that type of waste," Brazil said. "The purpose of the moratorium was to set up a bill schedule. We have set up one cubic yard in our policy. If you do anything different than one cubic yard you're giving away 3/4 of a pickup load of C&D."
Brazil also noted that if commissioners planned on giving cities a break when it comes to dumping C&D waste, individuals who were dumping would also deserve the same consideration.
When the City of Marion and the City of Hillsboro asked for the 60-day moratorium in late January they requested time to determine what the transfer station charges would be for C&D waste. The document requesting the moratorium noted the cities had not made provisions for any extra charges to cover the disposal of C&D waste.
Further, the document stated the city trash routes — developed over the years — were being interrupted because drivers had to weigh trucks both before and after dumping.
Collett asked who paid the cost of weighing the trucks at the local co-ops. Brazil said that was the responsibility of the cities.
"They (route drivers) aren't going to find large amounts of C&D waste on every route every week," said Commissioner Leroy Wetta. "If they (cities) can't work around it, they'll have to stop picking up C&D."
Brazil said the one cubic yard benchmark provides quite a bit of flexibility.
"If you go up to paying two cubic yards, you'll be looking at paying for C&D out of the assessment," Brazil said.
Brazil told commissioners he had checked into the price of scales from a Nebraska company and learned they could be purchased for under $10,000.
Commissioner Bob Hein said he'd hate to spend an extra $10,000 in a year when money is tight.
"People are really looking at what we're doing right now," Hein said.
Collett noted the transfer station's capital outlay budget did not have that much money, but Wetta said the funds would be available if painting the facility was delayed a year.
Collett agreed the only way scales could be purchased would be by deferring the painting until another year.
"Our PR (public relations) isn't too good right now. The co-op doesn't like it (the weighing) and neither do our customers," Collett said, suggesting that Brazil also check with scale companies in Salina and Wichita.
In a unrelated matter, the commission gave Brazil permission to seek bids to purchase a used commercial lawnmower for the transfer station.
