Council adopts business-friendly solid waste fees
IN THE CITY
by Dana H. Fowler
During their March 5 meeting, the City Council voted on some revisions to fees that are charged at the Presque Isle Landfill that could affect some users. In particular those users of the landfill that have purchased or will purchase landfill permits may receive a reduction in their cost to dispose of refuse.
Users are not required to purchase a landfill permit, but those that use the landfill on a frequent basis usually buy a landfill permit, which allows them to charge the disposal fees, known as tip fees. The city then invoices the permit holder at the end of each month for tip fees incurred during the previous month. Landfill users that do not have permits are required to pay their fees at the landfill at the time of delivery.
Purchasers of landfill permits are typically businesses. The City Council wanted to award a discounted tipping fee to those Presque Isle businesses that generate refuse. There are no reductions in tipping fees for construction debris, demolition debris, or wood. Everyone pays the same fee for those categories of waste. However, the tipping fee for regular trash or refuse varies depending on whether the user has a landfill permit or not.
Landfill users without a permit are charged at the rate of $150 per ton with a minimum fee of $30 or $3.35 per garbage bag, whichever is less. Those individuals, businesses, or entities that wish to purchase a landfill permit can buy either a $250 permit or a $500 permit. The $250 permit allows the user to establish a charge account and to now pay a tipping fee of $112.50 per ton as a result of the City Council vote. Before the vote, the tipping fee for the $250 permit was $150 per ton.
Those landfill users that purchase a $500 permit pay a tipping fee for refuse of $112.50 per ton. As a result of the recent City Council vote, those $500 permit holders that dispose of refuse generated within Presque Isle will receive a credit of $17.50 per ton on their monthly invoice giving them a net cost of $95 per ton. Prior to the City Council vote, only the two commercial waste haulers received the credit, which they passed on to their customers. The revised policy will allow all $500 permit holders, which are typically businesses, to enjoy the discounted rate, if their refuse originates in Presque Isle.
These policy changes voted by the City Council were done for the benefit of Presque Isle businesses. The new policy was made retroactive to January 1st, so those permittees that are impacted by the new policy will receive credits for fees they have already paid for the first two months of the year. If you have questions about the tip fee policy or other solid waste issues, please contact the Solid Waste Division at 760-2712.
Dana H. Fowler, P.E., is public services director for the city of Presque Isle. He can be reached at 760-2707 or via e-mail at dfowler@presqueisleme.us.
