Tonnage rate increase to be enacted at Beatrice landfill

BEATRICE – The Beatrice Solid Waste Agency board will institute an increase in the landfill tonnage fee, this coming year.  A two-dollar per ton increase was approved by the BASWA Board, Monday night. Mayor Stan Wirth chairs the board.

"Everything is more expensive. We run quite a bit of equipment out there, oil and gas has increased, repair costs have increased dramatically. That has to be passed on, just so we can be a viable entity and continue to cash-flow the operation."

Eventually, plans are to construct a new landfill south of the current facility, across a highway spur. However, Wirth says that project has been moved back on the schedule.

"The engineering services are going to be completed in fiscal year '23 and '24...and then construction starting in '25 and '26."

Improvements in recent years at the current landfill site extended the life of that facility, which serves not only Beatrice but customers from outside the community, as well.