Countywide : Payment Schedules for Haulers Altered

In an attempt to improve the county’s cash flow on landfill fees, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a restructuring of payment schedules for garbage haulers.

Under the new plan, which provides more payment options, the county’s 700 registered haulers would be allowed to pay their fees either within three days or 17 days of the county billing date, in addition to the current 30-day payment period.

In return for the faster payments, the new plan would allow haulers to post smaller security deposits now required as guarantees for their monthly accounts.

Haulers are required to post deposits representing three times their average monthly charges. For some of the largest haulers--such as Dewey’s Disposal and Great Western--that deposit has ranged as high as $2 million.

For those who would subscribe to the quicker payment schedule, the deposits would be reduced to just twice the average monthly charge.

“It’s good for both sides,” said Bill Castro, accounting manager for the county’s Integrated Waste Management Department.

Gate charges at the county’s four landfills stand at $22.75 per ton. Last year the county collected fees totaling $79.5 million.