Noting it was a long time coming, the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning OKed increases to the fees at the Barton County Landfill.

“From time to time, landfill management reviews rates to determine if the cost of disposal is adequate to cover operation and closing costs,” said Interim Solid Waste Director Jennifer Hamby. After a recent review, it is suggested that the tipping fee be increased by $2 per ton. 

This would bring the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) fee up to $42 per ton and the Construction and Demolition (C&D) fee up to $36 per ton. These go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.

The minimum fee would remain at $10 per ton. 

“Our biggest expense in maintenance,” Hamby said, adding that recent repairs to a compactor (a key piece of equipment) cost $380,000. “With the current state of the economy, everything is going up.”

The hikes could increase individual trash pick-up fees by about 20 cents per customer for each hauler, commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson,  District 3, said. But commissioners were keen to say they were the ones raising the rates, not the trash companies.

District 5 Commissioner Jennifer Schartz wanted to remind residents that the landfill is completely funded through user fees. It doesn’t utilize tax dollars.

These changes don’t impact the disposal of tires. That issue will be addressed at a later date.