LaSalle County committee extends landfill memorandum while Republic outlines plan to take Chicago transfer waste

The LaSalle County Land Use Committee voted May 6 to extend its memorandum of agreement with the county'9s landfill operator to allow more time for negotiations after Republic Services representatives proposed expanding the landfill'9s service area and changing the host‑fee structure.

At a committee oversight presentation, Republic'9s general manager Zach Woodburn said the operator has capacity to "intake more waste at the facility" and described a proposed "curved host fee" that would pay a higher per‑ton amount at lower volumes (an initial $5 per ton), then compress to reduced rates as annual tonnage increases. Woodburn said one high‑volume forecast in the handout put county revenue at about $1,200,000 at roughly 350,000 annual tons.

"We have the capacity to intake more waste at the facility, and we feel that an expanded service area would provide a good partnership with LaSalle County to increase the revenue that we bring in and therefore give better returns to the county," Woodburn said.

Committee members pressed Republic and operations staff on how additional inbound tonnage would affect the landfill'9s remaining life. Paul Wymore, the site manager, and Paul/operations staff explained that waste mix and density (the share of municipal solid waste versus sludge) materially affect settlement and airspace: heavier sludge content reduces density, while a better MSW/sludge mix and higher daily tonnage can increase decomposition and settlement, which in turn affects remaining years of site life.

Don Jensen asked for the assumptions behind Republic'9s 37–40 year estimate of remaining site life, noting that a simple linear increase in tonnage could reduce life much more sharply. Republic acknowledged the figures were preliminary and offered to return with a detailed, scenario‑based analysis.

Committee members raised operational and community concerns including traffic routing for transfer trucks, a possible minimum tonnage guarantee (one member suggested 200,000 tons annually), and increased levels of C&D or special‑waste handling. Woodburn said accepting transfer‑station waste from the City of Chicago would require significant capital investment (a tipper) and operational profiling to assure only municipal solid waste (household trash) is received. "We'd be putting in a lot of money ourselves as well if this were to come to fruition to be able to handle this waste stream," Woodburn said.

The committee recommended extending the existing memorandum of agreement for a limited period to allow Republic to provide detailed pricing scenarios and for county staff to negotiate guaranteed minimums and other protections. The oversight committee proposed a six‑month extension or an extension "until an agreement is reached," a formulation staff said could be included in the draft resolution to the full county board.

Motion and vote: The committee moved to execute an extension of the memorandum of agreement (language to read six months or until an agreement is reached). The motion was moved by Dave Torres and seconded by Steve Aubrey. Roll call recorded Torres, Owens, Aubrey, Wright and Weidman voting aye; Miller was absent. The motion passed.

Next steps: Republic agreed to return with a more detailed breakdown of projected inbound tonnage scenarios and host‑fee structures for committee review and to work with county staff on routing and minimum‑guarantee options. The oversight committee will forward its recommendation and the draft extension language to the full county board for final action.