4 months ago
The restrictions on how much trash you can dump for free at Macon's landfill may get a little tighter.
City council's public works committee approved an ordinance to change tipping fees at the landfill.
Currently, city residents can dump up to 2,000 pounds a week for free.
The change to the ordinance would limit that to 500 pounds a month.
Public Works Director Richard Powell says they lose about $2200 a week from people dumping trash for others who live outside the city, or from small businesses who claim to be city residents.
He says if you have that much trash, you probably have some type of side business going on.
He says for months, they studied who was bringing trash to the landfill.
When they found out some people were coming twice a week, every week, they knew it was time to make some changes.
Powell says when a person comes to dump trash, they tell the attendant where they are coming from, on an honor system.
Now he says they will start a driver's license system, using a database to look up the address and make sure someone is a city resident.
City council's public works committee agrees the system needs some cleaning.
Councilman Rick Hutto says if you live in the city, you should be able to dump your trash for free, but if you live in the county and don't pay city taxes, you should have to pay for it.
Council debated whether to charge everyone a fee, but ultimately decided the city taxes are enough to warrant a free pass for city residents.
Joseph Conrad brings trash from his city business every week.
Because he comes from a business, he pays the standard $27.75 per ton.
He says it is a small price to pay for the convenience.
He says his largest fee was just over $4, so the cost is not a big issue.
Powell says city residents will have to pay the standard $27.75 per ton if they dump more than 500 pounds per household in one month.
He says this will help the department's revenue.
The landfill is getting close to capacity and has a seven year closure plan.
Full council still has to approve the ordinance at their next meeting on July 21st before it can take effect.
