County approves resolutions in response to inflation and in preparation for new landfill

BERNALILLO — A pair of resolutions regarding the county landfill were approved Sept. 10 during regular county commission meeting. Both were proposed in preparation for a future new landfill and rising costs.

One was a motion authorizing a new Sandoval County Landfill rate schedule that would take effect July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027.

The resolution cover page states the it allows the county to slowly reach the required rates to operate and to develop the solid waste landfill and provide ample notice to customers of the changes.

“In June 2019, the Public Works/Solid Waste Division, along with Parkhill Environmental and NewGen Strategies & Solutions, completed the Sandoval County Municipal Solid Waste Cost of Service & Rate Design Study Final Report. The report includes key recommendations regarding tipping fee increases for seven years to aid in recovering the costs associated with closure/post-closure care costs, equipment replacement, and future capital projects,” it states. “Sandoval County Solid Waste needs to increase the current rates to match inflation.”

The resolution also notes that the Sandoval County Landfill is a government enterprise that does not operate on tax Funds.

“If the solid waste rates do not cover all costs of the operation of the landfill, revenue from county true revenues in the General Fund will be needed to pay for the landfill operations and not be available for other uses,” it reads. “All new landfill infrastructure will need to be constructed and funded by the landfill revenues.”

It adds that the cost of owning and operating the landfill has increased and that the landfill wishes to optimize the available airspace before the closure. The tonnage needed to fill the landfill has to increase, and in order to meet these goals, the landfill will offer volume discounts, which in return lowers the per-ton cost of the disposal and will provide the needed tonnage to meet the closure date, according to the resolution.

The other resolution approved a volume discount for commercial customers to meet the goals of the Sandoval County Landfill.

As it stands, the Sandoval County Landfill has a deadline for moving to the new landfill in 2036, but they are working on being at the new landfill from 2024-35. The landfill currently needs 1,096 tons per day to fill the remaining airspace at the current landfill but is currently receiving, on average, 750-800 tons per day.

“As we increase the tons per day, our cost per ton for disposal is reduced, which in return will increase the revenue to be used to fund the new landfill. As the tonnage increases to the goal of 1,100 tons per day, our cost of disposal could be reduced by as much as 50%. The discount will be based on a monthly tonnage. If the customer meets the required tonnage on the last day of the month, the discount will automatically be applied to their monthly bill at the discount rate for that tonnage received,” the resolution cover page states.

For more information, watch the Sept. 10 commission meeting at sandovalcountynm.gov.