Legislature's proposal for landfill fees could cost Janesville and its residents
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A possible change in state law could create budget issues for the city of Janesville and its landfill. City officials say the tipping fee increase proposed by state lawmakers could cause budget problems yet this year and may force the city to consider charging residents for trash collection. Kyle Geissler reports. You can read more in today's Janesville Gazette.
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Less than 10 minutes after opening it's gate on a weekday morning, the Janesville landfill is already taking in thousands of pounds of refuse. Proposed fee changes on the state level could dramatically raise the costs of dumping waste in the local facility.
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Less than 10 minutes after opening it's gate on a weekday morning, the Janesville landfill is already taking in thousands of pounds of refuse. Proposed fee changes on the state level could dramatically raise the costs of dumping waste in the local facility.
JANESVILLE — A proposed increase in state landfill fees could force Janesville to consider charging residents for garbage collection.
Even though the city owns the landfill, it could owe an additional $127,000 if Wisconsin legislators increase tipping fees.
Landfill operators are required to pay the state $5.90 per ton of garbage dumped, but the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance recently OK'd a proposal to increase those tipping fees to $13 per ton.
The city pays fees to the state on the 18,000 tons of residential trash city workers collect each year. Janesville charges other users $21.80 per ton.
City Manager Eric Levitt said it's too soon to guess how a state fee increase of $7.10 per ton would affect city services or charges.
"We don't charge our citizens for trash here, so is the city going to have to make (these fees) up?" Levitt said. "That's a question we'll have to evaluate."
John Whitcomb, city operations director, said the legislation could cause budget problems this year. The higher fees would begin in October, bringing an unplanned expense.
City officials also will have to take the new charges into account when planning next year's budget.
"Anytime you're increasing costs in face of levy limits, it obviously creates policy issues for the administration and the council," he said. "It gets to the heart of our budget process—where do you put your resources?"
Local environmentalist Julie Backenkeller hailed the legislation and said the revenue provided by the landfill does not excuse the effects of dumping.
"This can't be about money," she said. "This increase will encourage people to create less garbage, to do more recycling. Cheap landfilling only encourages landfilling."
Ann Hyzer, a member of the Sustainable Janesville Committee, said low tipping fees had some positive results for the city.
"I'm not one to say, ‘Well, let's increase fees so people don't come here,'" she said. "I would need to see the positive aspects of what the current tipping fee provides as well as the negative. That's not to say an increase couldn't be considered down the road."
Backenkeller said landfill income might remain steady if less garbage is created but higher tipping fees are charged.
Commercial and personal users of the landfill can expect to pay more if the proposal is approved. Dumpers could pay $28.90 per ton if the higher fees are approved. Levitt said the city includes tipping fees when setting the landfill rates.
One user is likely to bypass the full fees, thanks to an arrangement Whitcomb described as "mutually beneficial" for the company and the city.
Joseph Behr & Sons, a metal recycling company in Rockford, Ill., provides a byproduct called shredder fluff to the landfill for a reduced fee. Whitcomb said landfills are required to cover garbage with 6 inches of approved material. That's where Behr's shredder fluff comes in.
"It saves us money because we don't have to go and fetch soil to cover our waste," he said.
The company is exempted from tipping fees because shredder fluff is approved for covering the landfill.
Behr is one of only a few out-of-state users of the Janesville landfill.
Whitcomb said the city does not actively pursue waste from across the border.
The state Assembly is expected to take up the budget for consideration this week. The Senate is expected to consider it next week.
If approved by both chambers, Gov. Jim Doyle is could sign the budget into law by June 30.
Jun 11, 2009 at 1:13 p.m.
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prevention- that must be why my neighbor wont seperate and he works there. knows something we dont!!!
Jun 9, 2009 at 1:39 p.m.
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Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!
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http://365daysoftrash.blogspot.com/2008/...
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Maybe we should all try this! Or at least try to be more aware of how our choices affect the amount of garbage we set out each week.
Jun 9, 2009 at 1:09 p.m.
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Tater, the combination of an increased Wisconsin tipping fee, and declining landfill fees near the Minnesota border have erased a considerable difference in prior years. You are citing average costs but landfills are free to set their own rates. Wisconsin tipping fees were $3.797 pre ton prior to Nov 07 and during that period MN Metropolitan rates were $6.66 per ton. According to Department of Natural Resource figures, the total amount of garbage from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota dumped in Wisconsin landfills in 2004 rose to nearly 2.2 million tons, a 46% increase over 2003. You are correct that the tipping fee increase may do little to affect out-of-state dumping. I guess the alternative to the tipping fee increase would be for the city to eliminate waste hauling contracts. Homeowners could haul their own trash out to the landfill, pay the same fee we do now, the money saved by the city for not providing that service could be put toward services subsidized by the State which, in turn, saves the State money, all without raising tipping fees. Gee why didn’t the Republicans think of that. Instead of only cutting services to the needy, or seniors, or children they should look at cutting services that everyone uses. How do you think that would go over?
Jun 9, 2009 at 9:44 a.m.
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Rockstar writes:
>> Geez, you hardcore, far-right Republicans are embarrassing yourselves. Get over it. All you do is complain about Democrats. Can't you come up with anything else? It's GARBAGE, for God's sake. <<
And there, exactly, is the reason we need to keep reminding everyone of what is going on. You dem-sheep are fine with everything your party throws down, so much that you are not even able to keep up with the topic! It's not garbage - it's taxes that is behind this
story. It's always taxes, taxes, and more taxes that are at the heart of almost every Dem initiative. And right now, with the current state of the economy, raising taxes is not what should be at the forefront of the mind of any legislator. Our state is not being hurt by the price of dumping garbage. Our prices are similar to surrounding states, but if the intent is to keep out Illinois and Minnesota's trash, then raise it enough to be slightly more expensive than those states. But why more than double? It's just another area where the present lawmakers feel they can grab extra taxes without sheeple complaining. And, believe this as it has been aptly demonstrated in the past: the vast majority of new taxes raised on the landfill issue, will NOT be used on any recycling or landfill projects.
Here's a good story on this issue:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/4...
Jun 9, 2009 at 7:51 a.m.
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I would like a 125% raise , too!
Jun 9, 2009 at 7:46 a.m.
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Geez, you hardcore, far-right Republicans are embarrassing yourselves. Get over it. All you do is complain about Democrats. Can't you come up with anything else? It's GARBAGE, for God's sake.
Jun 9, 2009 at 5:39 a.m.
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"Who is the "sucker?" Doyle is the Governor you are not."
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Speaking of suckers, thank you!! Yes, the Great and Powerful Oz is our leader. I was wondering what to call Proressive Dane and you helped me with that - The Lollipop Guild. After all, they have a few seats in Munchkinland. The Scarecrow has to be someone without a brain, so State Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker fits the personna quite well. I think Tammy Baldwin as the Wicked Witch of the West is a lock. Any suggestions for the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man?
Jun 9, 2009 at 2:51 a.m.
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"Because it is cheap and convenient for us, and makes a nickel or dime for OUR current wasteful lifestyle does not make it morally acceptable to saddle future generations with this mess."
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I apologize in advance...but.. Would those morals be the ones we all learn from infancy, or the ones God supposedly crammed into our heads before we even had them?
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Sorry.....sorreeeeeey. I had to do it.
Jun 9, 2009 at 2:46 a.m.
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"Bring back the burning barrel?"
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OH NOooooooooooo!!!!! Nothing natural burns on the planet. Only naughty human beings pollute the atmosphere!! Meps, meps, unacceptable.
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The reasons for waste disposal just keep piling up....... : )
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Why doesn't the great and powerful Oz tell it like it is. It's a tax hike. You can call it a fee, but it doesn't pass the smell test (smells like garbage to ME).
Jun 8, 2009 at 9:57 p.m.
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Keep these figures in mind. Janesville residential garbage totals around 16,000 tons per year. Business and industrial: 100,000 tons per year. Hauled in from who-knows-where: 116,000 tons per year. Janesville residents generate the smallest percentage of waste - increases to tipping fees will go to those that are generating the trash. Creature - you are right on. A pay-as-you-throw program should be looked at. You can check it out on the Wi Dnr's website. If this were implemented in Jvl, you would NEVER see 15 bags of garbage at the curb. Cheap landfilling does nothing to promote reuse, reduce & recycle. Start asking at every store or restaurant you frequent - where their recycling container is located. A good many will tell you that they only recycle cardboard - even though they are required by law to recycle, just like the rest of us. Dane County's landfill only accepts waste generated in Dane County - another option for us. Current landfill site is predicted to last only 40 more years. Then what?? Lastly - why should MY KIDS have to pay to CLEAN UP the messes made by our generation? Because it is cheap and convenient for us, and makes a nickel or dime for OUR current wasteful lifestyle does not make it morally acceptable to saddle future generations with this mess. No matter what the cost - those that generate the trash, should be paying inflated costs to dump - to cover costs of future cleanup. JB
Jun 8, 2009 at 9:44 p.m.
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It is unfortunate that this is -- also due to the economy -- the worst market for recycled materials in a generation. Otherwise it might be possible to use citizen education to increase recycling volume, which doesn't exactly break even, but certainly doesn't cost as much as dumping it.
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I'm not a fan of increasing the cost of something just to fill a budget hole. If there were increased state management costs that would be one thing. The potential downside here is fewer people putting their trash in approved facilities (especially those who have to pay cash). That isn't an ecologically sound strategy.
Jun 8, 2009 at 9:05 p.m.
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Bring back the burning barrel?
Jun 8, 2009 at 9:04 p.m.
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While the idea of paying more money is not exactly thrilling, perhaps this will be an incentive for people to boost their recycling efforts.
Too many people throw anything and everything to the trash without even thinking about recycling it.
If people recycled everything that could be recycled instead of throwing it in the trash, think of how much less trash we would get of on a daily basis!
While I may be labeled a tree-hugger, (which is something I fully embrace) I believe it is very important for people to do what they can to help keep the Earth clean and green.
Recycling is one of those things, and its extremely easy!
Jun 8, 2009 at 8:46 p.m.
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a back door tax, pure and simple.
Jun 8, 2009 at 8:30 p.m.
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rexkramer: Who is the "sucker?" Doyle is the Governor you are not.
Jun 8, 2009 at 8:18 p.m.
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What!!? Another fee/tax increase from Jim Doyle and the democrats? No way. This from the guy who, when running for re-election 3 years ago stated "we cannot, we must not, and I will not raise taxes"....suckers!
Jun 8, 2009 at 8:10 p.m.
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Try taking your recyclables somewhere that actually recycles the materials. From my observations, when we spend all that time in recycling at home, it goes in the same areas as the garbage.
Try recycling and we wouldn't be in this financial mess of a dump!
Jun 8, 2009 at 7:58 p.m.
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Again instead of Dolt and the democrats reducing spending, they increase fees and taxes. They even increse spending for crap like "Race Identification for all police contact", and "No hunting with nonexisting Star Wars weapons" legislation. List goes on.
Jun 8, 2009 at 7:46 p.m.
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same place we get the money for a bike tunnel, Ice arena and water towers........
Jun 8, 2009 at 7:37 p.m.
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Panama: where do you get your figures?
According to research on the 'net: The average total charges at landfills near the border are the same in Minnesota - $44 per ton - as Wisconsin. In Illinois, the cost is $48 per ton.
Many experts say that this increase will hurt more Wisconsin municipalities than it will affect out-of-state dumping. What city services will have to be cut to absorb this, yet another tax created by democrats? (The 16-member committee (http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/jfc.htm...) consists of 12 dems and 4 republicans.)
I don't know why our city manager says that it's too early to tell how much this will effect Janesville. When this story broke on other news services (May 31), it was figured that the City of Waukesha would have to pay an additional $116,306 for a similar 16,381 tons of garbage as last year. According to this article, Janesville generates 18,000 tons of refuse. So where are we going to get this $120,000?
Jun 8, 2009 at 6:24 p.m.
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thanks gfan-
thanks sannio- not sure what i was suposed to see at your first link but i did find link for park place news- it was march.
MAYBE ERIC LIVITZ CANNOT READ- this is from sanitation section:
"Sanitation – Encompasses trash and recycling collection and disposal programs, including waste, tire and
appliance recycling, management of sanitary and demolition landfills and compost facility and twice-yearly yard
waste collection. Program costs are also paid for by user fees, such as sanitary landfill and drop-off fees. $13.13 $1.09
Per $112,000 assesment of taxes.
so why does he think we dont pay. do we pay and somebody is pocketing the money!!????
Jun 8, 2009 at 6:21 p.m.
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garbage dumps, the new political football. i think it stinks.
Jun 8, 2009 at 6:09 p.m.
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hannah - Your city budget is online, and selecting the category "taxes and assessing":
http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/citysite/...
There's also an extensive FAQs section on just about everything:
http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/citysite/...
Jun 8, 2009 at 5:54 p.m.
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hannah, is it the Park Place News?
Jun 8, 2009 at 5:49 p.m.
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Ms. Backekeller is correct, the more we dump the more its going to cost each of us. We could eliminate much of what fills our landfill by simply increasing our recycling efforts. Also, Mr. Whitcomb's claim that he or the city do not "actively pursue" out-of-state users is misleading. The cheap tipping fees currently in place are a huge draw for out-of-state users who pay 2-3 times as much in tipping fees at their local landfill. Even with the high cost of transportation, its cheaper to dump here. We should not be accepting ANY out-of-state waste unless we get some benefit as is the case with "shredder fluff".
Woody is right, if you think its expensive now wait until the current hole is filled.
Jun 8, 2009 at 5:41 p.m.
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what is the name of that seasonal janesville news booklet that is mailed? it had a breakdown of what %age go to city stuff from your property tax. said 33% for city stuff so where does the rest go!!!!!????????
Jun 8, 2009 at 5:39 p.m.
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We don't charge our citizens for trash here"
I thought we paid for this in our prop taxes!!!
I know they charge you if you go to the dump.
$5 a load depending on if trunk or trailer or how many axle trailer etc.
when i drop off yard waste they dont even make sure I live in janesville. they ask and they say okay,maybe they should check ids, how many out of towners bring their stuff here for free?
Jun 8, 2009 at 4:54 p.m.
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It may sound worse than you think. Maybe they'll just follow the path that some smaller cities have gone. 1 garbage bag and 1 recycle bin per week no charge. If you have other items you buy a tag for $1 and attach to the bag or item. Not really that bad and fairly inexpensive. The only issue you need to follow is don't miss the garbage pickup every week.
Jun 8, 2009 at 4:45 p.m.
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"John Whitcomb, city operations director, said the legislation could cause budget problems this year. The higher fees would begin in October, bringing an unplanned expense."
Note to John: if this budget passes (recall we have a DEMOCRAT running this state, the Assembly is run by DEMOCRATS and the Senate is run by DEMOCRATS), everything we own, do or touch will see steep cost increases.
Governor Jimmy D will claim he has not raised taxes.
What a laugh!
Jun 8, 2009 at 4:31 p.m.
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Wait to see how much it will cost to get rid of our garbage after they get that big hole filled. Where will we put it then? For what price? Once we started taking garbage from other cities, it didn't take long to fill up. We don't even charge them the going rate!
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