The White County Board of Commissioners Monday night reluctantly approved a new contract with Waste Management, operators of the White County Transfer Station, and haulers of garbage to area land fields.
The contract contained substantial increases both in the tipping fee for garbage collectors using the facility and residents disposing of bagged household garbage.
White County Manager Mike Renshaw told the commissioners that the tipping fee will increase by 19 percent and the six-bag disposal free will increase from $5.00 to $5.50 at the transfer station.
The commissioners said they will keep the 6-bag fee at $5.00 at the White County Convenience Center on the Appalachian Parkway.
Renshaw advised the commissioners that Waste Management officials said these new fees are break-even numbers, they are not making any money.
In addressing that comment, White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner didn’t hold back when he said, “That’s just a bunch of bull. I’m sorry, there is no other way to say it. We’re not dumb, I mean, they are the gorilla in the middle of the room you heard me make that comment earlier; they have a monopoly on most trash and garbage operations throughout, well, probably the whole eastern seaboard if not the whole nation.”
The new fees will go into effect on January first and, according to Renshaw, will be the highest fees charged in the area.
The commissioners plan to look at alternatives to providing garbage disposal services for the county next year.
