Lewis County residents could see solid waste fees increase by 20 percent

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Lewis County commissioners are proposing a 20 percent fee increase for solid waste in next year’s budget.

Citing high fuel prices, rising labor costs and the overuse of county dumpsters, commissioners say the increase is needed to maintain services.

The situation is similar to Idaho County which recently announced a 25 percent increase in it’s solid waste budget.

Lewis County contracts with Simmons Sanitation in Kamiah for solid waste disposal in the valley region and Walco of Grangeville, for communities on the Camas Prairie.

Because not all landfills can handle everything, regular garbage goes to one place; metals go somewhere else; and tires have to be hauled to another separate location. That adds to the expense, as well as costing the county extra for any tonnage that exceeds the contracted amount.

Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposal Sept. 6th, along with an additional hearing to adopt the county’s proposed new fiscal year budget. (Lewiston Tribune)

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