Free Dump Days Exceed Cost Estimates

For two weeks in September, the Mat-Su Borough offered free dumping at the landfill and its transfer stations. Jeff Smith, Solid Waste Division Manager, says about 5,700 tons were dumped in the two weeks. That was about 380 tons per day, nearly double the daily average. 

The bins in Trapper Creek were changed out at least a few times during the week. They are normally changed every week or two. Bins in Talkeetna were changed almost daily. 

The two weeks of free dump days cost the Borough $890,000 including costs and lost revenues. Smith says that he estimated the program would at least cost $400,000 plus expenses when the Assembly approved it. It had never been done before so he could not be sure what the end cost would be.

Though discussed at the Assembly meeting, it was unclear where the lost revenues would come from. Because the Borough landfill gets its operating budget through an Enterprise fund, revenues and expenses must equal each year.  

Smith indicates that the shortfall will come out of landfill reserves. He says that at some point there will need to be a rate increase to make up for that lost revenue. He says there has not been a rate increase in two years. 

When asked if the program was a success, he says it depends on the interpretation of success. He says there are ways to operate the program that won’t cost as much and will be less stressful on staff. Smith says that one example of an alternative would be providing everyone with a $50 coupon they could use any time during the year would cost about half what this year’s program cost.