Peoria County board approves 2026 landfill budget as transfer station nears opening

The Peoria County Board unanimously approved the 2026 landfill committee budget after members heard an update that the county’s transfer station has been granted permission to operate and is expected to open the week of the 8th.

Rob Reneau, chair, called the motion to place the budget on the floor; Member Brian Elsasser moved and Member Betty Duncan seconded. The packet presented to the board notes the committee will operate in a deficit while the landfill has been closed and transportation operations resume, and it assumes receipt of 91,127 tons over six months once tipping fees resume.

The board heard a sustainability update from Rebecca Cottrell, who told members the county has secured the Peoria Transfer Station for the household hazardous‑waste collection on Aug. 8 and that she had asked for a grace period for the freeload program so residents using other sites would not be forced to drive to the transfer station immediately. Cottrell said she had coordinated with GFL and county partners and that the website would be updated when the opening was finalized.

Cottrell also highlighted ongoing battery collection at 17 locations and recent community cleanup work, and she said that landfill‑committee staff shared updated first‑quarter costs, revenues and expenditures with the board.

Board discussion noted that the city and county are forgoing certain operational charges for 2026 (the county’s personal operational cost cited as $8,500 and the city’s as $42,000 in the packet). The motion passed unanimously; the board did not record individual roll‑call votes in the meeting transcript.

The budget item was voted on as presented and approved. The transfer‑station timeline and a requested tour for board members were left as next steps.