Tipping fees

Uncompetitive flow-control legislation mandating that trash be sent to the regional landfill in the town of Rodman has removed the incentive for Lewis County to pass on nearly $48,000 in savings to residents.

Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties have taken advantage of a $2 discount offered by the Development Authority of the North Country to the counties and haulers who sign multiyear agreements. The discount will lower to $39 the tipping fee at DANC's regional landfill in the town of Rodman.

St. Lawrence County will save about $56,500 from the reduction. The board's Finance Committee is expected to take up a resolution Monday night to lower its $96 per-ton tipping fee, but that is not the case in Jefferson and Lewis counties.

Jefferson County recently hiked by $4, to $59 per ton, what it charges commercial haulers at the county-operated transfer station in the town of Pamelia. However, it will maintain the higher fee despite realizing a $70,000 savings from the reduction.

The only adjustment being discussed in Lewis County is the charge for dumping contaminated soil. The tipping fee at its transfer station went from $61 to $66 per ton at the start of the year and the county realized a $48,400 savings from the DANC agreement.

County Legislature Chairman Jack T. Bush left no doubt flow-control legislation enacted by the county last year was the reason. The law requires all trash generated in the county to be taken to Rodman except for contaminated soil. Since it can be taken anywhere, competition becomes a factor in keeping costs down. "We don't want to price ourselves out of the market," he said.

In Jefferson and Lewis counties, the higher fees combined with the lower charges by DANC amount to an 11 percent increase in costs to haulers and ultimately their customers.

Local governments should be sharing their reduced costs with residents through lower county tipping fees.