White County is projected to receive approximately $400,000 annually in host fees following the opening of a new landfill cell and the acquisition of several regional waste contracts.
Waste Management Representative Tom Brandon provided an operational update to the county commission Monday. regarding the facility’s recent expansion and intake capabilities. Brandon said the landfill opened a new cell three or four weeks ago and is now accepting daily volume from Sparta. He said a contract with DeKalb County secured in July will soon transition to the facility, along with waste from a transfer station in Cumberland County.
“So the county will start receiving a host benefit for that,” Brandon said. “So anticipation next four to six weeks, the county’s gonna be getting approximately 1200 tons per day. So that’s huge. Do the math with your host fee agreement and that’s just the beginning. So do the math at about 50 and you’re probably looking at close about four hundred thousand dollars a year.”
The facility also partnered with Rutherford County to accept waste from their new $17 million transfer station, which is expected to bring in between 8,000 and 9,000 tons of waste per month.
“We’re moving the entrance to the Old Kentucky Road so that’s going to be April is the projection for that,” Brandon said. “We’re gonna close the old entrance down and open that up. That’s a good move and we’re also working with T-DOT on making sure we’re safe out there on the Old Kentucky Road putting some flashing lights and things like that make sure we’re doing the right thing.”
Brandon told the commission that the decision to sell the landfill to Waste Management secured long-term financial benefits for the county. He noted that the body should be recognized for making the move that ensures revenue through perpetuity.
“We have a tipper that’s going to be installed at Thomas Stevens on March the 13th,” Brandon said. “So when that happens then you know we can really flex and start bringing in additional volume.”
The county sold the landfill, deciding it was not a business they could effectively operate within. Waste Management purchased the facility and has been making changes.
“You’re in good hands for a long time,” Brandon said. “So I think you’ll see the financial benefit also in the community involvement for for a long time.”
The next full court meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 16.
