Solid Waste Committee Recommends $1/Ton Tipping Fee for County

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Published on June 18 2019 3:31 pm
Last Updated on June 18 2019 3:31 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham County Board's Solid Waste Committee Tuesday voted to recommend the full County Board enact a $1/ton tipping fee with the proceeds to be used for recycling efforts.

The County Board has the final word on whether the fee will be enacted.

There was much discussion as to what conservation efforts would be pursued. Local attorney Sarah Ruholl Sehy, who heads Effingham Recycles, a local advocacy group for recycling, developed at Committee Chairman John Perry's request a blueprint for how revenues from a tipping fee could be utilized. 

Ruholl Sehy's recommendation is for 25% of the revenue go to the County Health Department for administration costs over environmental health services, educational programming and salaries for employees or contractors in the environmental health field; 20% to community services to support waste management needs such as yard waste drop off, electronic recycling events, hazardous waste collection events, and semi-annual glass recycling drives; 20% to educational program grants to support environmental education for all ages; and 35% to recycling subsidies with the percentage to be adjusted up if recycling services are readily available to the county.

That proposal was not approved, but Perry said it was meant as a guideline, not as the rule.

There was also discussion of whether to pursue a host fee, or a tipping fee. A host fee is paid by a landfill, with the revenue to be used at the discretion of the County Board. A tipping fee is assessed on the waste disposed of in a landfill, with the revenue to be used for certain environmental purposes.

The $1/ton tipping fee being sent by the committee to the full board is a compromise to the maximum $1.27/ton fee first suggested and rejected. The fee is paid by the waste haulers, who then have the option of passing along the fee to customers.

There was also discussion about what recycling efforts are desired. Landfill 33 Owner Brian Hayes said his firm already offers certain recycling options, but several in attendance said they were not aware those options are available. Yard waste was a concern of several present and 40% of the 600 who responded to a recycling survey conducted late last year said lack of a yard waste drop off is a serious issue. Hayes said his company offers such services.

All present agreed that more education on what can be recycled, ways to reduce waste, and how to make for a better environment should be a high priority.