MONROE - The city of Monroe saved about $15,000 over three months by skipping the county transfer station and transporting residents' trash directly to the Janesville landfill, according to city officials.
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman requested the cost comparison to gauge whether the move away from the Green County transfer station was the best option. Previously, the city had been members of the transfer station, where garbage from throughout the county is taken before being hauled to the landfill in Janesville. But after years of unproductive contract talks, negotiations failed between the transfer station and the city of Monroe in September. The following month, aldermen decided Monroe would take its trash directly to Janesville, at least on a trial basis.
The comparison covered a 13-week period, or one quarter of a year. As members of the transfer station, Monroe was paying just more than $45,000 per quarter for services. Of this total, almost $23,000 went toward tipping fees, with $5,000 for equipment, $1,500 for labor and more than $16,000 for various fees associated with membership at the station.
By transporting the trash directly to the landfill, the city has found that it costs roughly $30,000. It paid just less than $18,000 in tipping fees, $10,000 for equipment and $3,000 for labor. As non-members of the transfer station, solid waste removal through the county facility cost the city $33,000. Tipping fees were nearly $10,000 more as non-members, but labor was half as much than the cost the city currently pays by transporting the trash themselves. Equipment costs were also half as much.
City administrator Phil Rath expected this shift in expenses.
"Labor and equipment costs should be twice as much if we're driving twice as far," Rath said.
Despite the savings overall, some council members expressed discontent with the arrangement during a meeting last week. Alderman Tom Miller said he would prefer the city reach out to the transfer station to see if an agreement could be made. But Rath said that unless costs have changed, it would not be responsible to add costs for Monroe residents when a less expensive option is available.
In November, the facility stopped allowing residents from non-member communities, namely Monroe, to use the transfer station to dispose of bulky waste.
Alderman Jeff Newcomer said the biggest issue has been these "extra items" or the waste that cannot simply be thrown away. When spring starts and individuals begin work on their homes, the lack of options to dispose of items such as building materials could cause some problems, he said.
Alderman Michael Boyce said he would prefer to see the city explore other options to utilize outside sources.
But Rath said Monday there has been no direction from the council to deviate from the current model of driving solid waste directly to the Janesville landfill.
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman requested the cost comparison to gauge whether the move away from the Green County transfer station was the best option. Previously, the city had been members of the transfer station, where garbage from throughout the county is taken before being hauled to the landfill in Janesville. But after years of unproductive contract talks, negotiations failed between the transfer station and the city of Monroe in September. The following month, aldermen decided Monroe would take its trash directly to Janesville, at least on a trial basis.
The comparison covered a 13-week period, or one quarter of a year. As members of the transfer station, Monroe was paying just more than $45,000 per quarter for services. Of this total, almost $23,000 went toward tipping fees, with $5,000 for equipment, $1,500 for labor and more than $16,000 for various fees associated with membership at the station.
By transporting the trash directly to the landfill, the city has found that it costs roughly $30,000. It paid just less than $18,000 in tipping fees, $10,000 for equipment and $3,000 for labor. As non-members of the transfer station, solid waste removal through the county facility cost the city $33,000. Tipping fees were nearly $10,000 more as non-members, but labor was half as much than the cost the city currently pays by transporting the trash themselves. Equipment costs were also half as much.
City administrator Phil Rath expected this shift in expenses.
"Labor and equipment costs should be twice as much if we're driving twice as far," Rath said.
Despite the savings overall, some council members expressed discontent with the arrangement during a meeting last week. Alderman Tom Miller said he would prefer the city reach out to the transfer station to see if an agreement could be made. But Rath said that unless costs have changed, it would not be responsible to add costs for Monroe residents when a less expensive option is available.
In November, the facility stopped allowing residents from non-member communities, namely Monroe, to use the transfer station to dispose of bulky waste.
Alderman Jeff Newcomer said the biggest issue has been these "extra items" or the waste that cannot simply be thrown away. When spring starts and individuals begin work on their homes, the lack of options to dispose of items such as building materials could cause some problems, he said.
Alderman Michael Boyce said he would prefer to see the city explore other options to utilize outside sources.
But Rath said Monday there has been no direction from the council to deviate from the current model of driving solid waste directly to the Janesville landfill.