The company that operates the trash transfer station south of Parsons asked Labette County’s solid waste committee to consider a change in the operating agreement that would allow a rate adjustment for commercial customers. The adjustment wouldn’t apply to cities in the county that take trash to the transfer station.
Ben Seiferman, regional vice president of GFL Environmental, spoke to committee members on Wednesday. GFL is operating the trash transfer station on a 10-year contract with the county. The contract, approved in 2023, increased tipping fees charged to cities in the county using the transfer station. The rate is $44.25 a ton. GFL hauls the collected trash to its landfill in Arcadia using a third-party trucking company.
The contract is increased 2% each year for inflation. Seiferman said inflation is closer to 4.2% now, even though he expects it to drop in the future. He wanted the committee to consider adjusting rates charged to commercial haulers that use the transfer station, some of which may have come from outside the county. He also wanted the committee to consider making other adjustments, including charging more for commercial roll off containers. Trash in trash trucks is compressed. Material in roll off containers is not, which means that a trailer will fill up faster and not carry as much material to the landfill.
The cost of trucking is still increasing, Seiferman said the rate charged everyone now isn’t covering costs.
Seiferman wanted the committee to consider an increase to $65 to $75 a ton for third party haulers bringing in trash from outside the county.
The committee will take the request under advisement, pending discussion with county commissioners and receiving information from GFL.
