Franklin County may start charging cities tipping fee at county landfill

The cities of Apalachicola and Carrabelle may soon have to pay a tipping fee for disposing of debris at the Franklin county landfill.

At this time the cities aren’t charged for dumping debris at the landfill, but Emergency Management Director Pam Brownell said the county has to charge the cities something for using the landfill or the county stands to lose a lot of money if we are hit by a major storm.

She said that FEMA won’t reimburse the county for disposing the cities debris if the county isn’t charging them a tipping fee on a regular basis.

That oversight cost the county nearly 24 thousand dollars during tropical storm Debbie – and that loss could be minimal if we are ever hit be a major disaster.

Mrs Brownell said that the tipping fees after storms are a reimbursable charge for the cities, so they wouldn’t lose money, and once the fees are in place the county wouldn’t lose money either.

Besides, the extra money could help offset the cost of equipment replacement for the solid waste department.

Mrs Brownell said charging the fee will also make it easier to know how much debris came from each area so FEMA reimbursements will be quicker and easier.

County commissioners have not taken any action on the tipping fee issue yet, but ask that the emergency Management director meet with the cities and with the solid waste director to try to reach a fair agreement before coming back to the board with a final recommendation.  

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