Dive Brief:
- The landfill in Newton County, GA could save money toward capital improvements if subsidies to the convenience centers are ended and all fees are collected, according to a report by Bob Stafford, a member of the citizen solid waste panel. He also recommended that a Solid Waste Authority be activated.
- Using 2014 numbers provided by the county, Stafford said the convenience centers, where citizens dispose of waste for free, account for a net loss of $1,932,386. Also, some paying customers like recyclers were undercharged or never paid their fees.
- Charging citizens and making sure others paid their fees would bring in more than $3 million a year, with $600,000 left over for upgrades and improvements.
Dive Insight:
The Environmental Protection Division approved the county’s proposal to expand the landfill, but the county has taken no action toward the first step of addressing groundwater and air contamination, which should be completed by 2017.
“My conclusion is that if revenue and costs were allocated correctly ... we would have [an] excess of $10 million additional funds in the landfill account," Stafford said.
Newton County should have a Solid Waste Authority to manage a landfill involving millions of dollars.