Summit County staff propose landfill, special‑item fees; council questions rates

County solid‑waste staff presented proposed changes to landfill and special‑item fees at the Nov. 29 Summit County Council meeting, including raising mixed‑waste tipping rates to roughly $40 per ton and proposing a $500 fee to accept and process mobile homes at the county landfills. Staff said operational costs — equipment, personnel, fuel and dwindling landfill capacity — have increased and that Summit County’s proposed rates would still be lower than neighboring counties.

The staff presentation noted that some special wastes (campers/boats, mobile homes) require heavy equipment to dismantle and segregate fluids and materials, creating high handling costs; staff recommended a measurable fee to avoid free acceptance that often leads to abandonment. Council members pushed staff on whether the proposed mobile‑home and camper fees were high enough to cover costs and whether fees should be scaled (for example, per foot for boats) rather than flat amounts.

Council also discussed whether transferring waste to other jurisdictions was feasible; staff said long‑haul transfer can be substantially more expensive depending on destination and transport fees.

No fee ordinance was adopted Nov. 29; staff said the schedule will return for a public hearing (noted for Dec. 13) and that staff will include two additional fee items and clarifications in the next packet.