By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
With equipment repairs and fuel costs, along with many other variables, running a landfill is not cheap. During Tuesday’s Barton County Commission meeting, Solid Waste Director Jennifer Hamby explained that landfill management periodically its rates to ensure they cover operational and closure expenses.
“Earlier this year, we considered increasing the rates, but we decided to wait until further analysis,” Hamby said. “After further review, due to the increasing costs, our maintenance costs, closure costs, and just our general operational costs, I’m recommending a two-dollar-per-ton increase starting Jan. 1, 2027, with a gradual increase each year for several years just to cover any future costs.”
Hamby also explained the need for a new cell in the future to keep operations sustainable. That will be a large expense for the county.
“They’re projecting that in 15 years, one of those cells will cost probably anywhere between $5-6 million, so we need to make sure we have the funds for that,” she said. “I had mentioned about the closure costs; they increase about three percent every year.”
No date has been given, but the landfill will also be required to invest in a gas-collection system as it grows and emits more methane into the atmosphere. Hamby said that equipment costs between $1.5 and $3 million. The landfill currently has an economical fuel contract, but that expires in June with uncertain prices for the next year. The facility spent approximately $800,000 rebuilding a piece of equipment and replacing the transmission on a bulldozer.
But Hamby said Barton County rates are still favorable for the area, with other facilities charging approximately $65 a ton. Barton’s current rate is $42 a ton. Commission Shawn Hutchinson estimated the increase approved Tuesday might cost the average customer about $3 a year if the cost was passed directly to them.