Landfill board still waiting to hear about lobbying efforts

The success of the lobbying efforts made to change the funding model for the new landfill transfer station have not been revealed yet, according to Upper Platte River Solid Waste Disposal District (landfill board) Chairperson Randy Raymer.

The current model of funding only allows for 75 percent maximum grant and loan, with the landfill board needing to come up with the remaining portion on their own. The cash portion the landfill board is responsible for is estimated at $325,000 for the transfer station.

This funding model is responsible for rate hikes seen this year. Representatives from the Department of Environmental Quality attended a meeting last Thursday in Riverton to present on reinstating 100 percent total project funding with 75 percent maximum grant and 25 percent loan for anyone applying and/or 90 percent max grant and 10 percent loan for facilities in impoverished situations, Raymer said. According to Raymer, he had requested $1.5 million to cover potential increased costs.

“One way or another, we’re going to pull the trigger (on construction) this year because we don’t have a choice,” Raymer said.

Raymer attended the Wyoming Solid Waste and Recycling Convention in August, presenting notes from relevant presentations at the landfill board meeting on Sept. 2.

One topic discussed was recycling, noting questions such as “Where are we now?” and “Where do we want to go as a goal?” Raymer indicated that many areas charge for recycling, usually at fees of $5 to $8 per month. According to Raymer, all large municipalities charge for recycling. Raymer also said that many facilities are applying for and receiving grants for recycling.

Composting food waste and green waste were other topics Raymer discussed, noting that food waste recycling is done on a concrete slab in order to prevent leaching into the soil. However, Raymer said that animal waste is not recommended for composting due to DEQ regulations on diseases that get transported in the soil.

For animal waste, board members discussed an incinerator which could cost up to $30,000. Accurate numbers on the amount of animal waste in the Platte Valley would have to be gathered before an exact incinerator size could be determined. According to Raymer, every new transfer station needs to do something like this for animal waste.