Most people agree it’s good to have a responsible way to dispose of hazardous waste.

 

But collecting and processing materials that can cause health problems and/or harm the environment comes with a cost.

 

For Sherburne County, that cost was part of a discussion last week at the county board meeting, where the commissioners approved an agreement with Stearns County to accept hazardous materials from Sherburne County residents. 

 

Stearns County owns and operates a permanent household hazardous waste disposal facility in Waite Park. The facility was previously operated by the Tri-County Solid Waste Commission.

 

Under the agreement, Sherburne County will be charged $40 per resident vehicle entering the facility to dispose of household hazardous waste through Oct. 1, 2015.

After that date, the Stearns County Board can change the amount per vehicle as part of the county’s fee schedule.

 

Last week, Environmental Expert John Exner with Sherburne County Planning and Zoning said the county would pay an annual fee for the sorting, packaging, disposal and labor costs associated with hazardous materials.

 

“It’s based on the total cost to Tri-County and passed down to member counties by percentage,” he said. “Sherburne County has historically been about 10% of the Tri-County population.”

 

On average, 501 residents from the county have used the facility each year to dispose of hazardous products such as paint, solvents, pesticides and fluorescent bulbs. Commissioner John Riebel said he was upset when he first learned about the cost per vehicle. 

 

“I’ll agree it is right. It’s a good contract, but I object to the $40,” he said. “When I first read it I jumped to a hasty conclusion  because I saw this little old lady, 90 years old, walking in with one light bulb and charged $40. Then I calmed down and realized that semi-load of stuff behind her is going to kind of even it out.”

 

Commissioner Felix Schmiesing said no one from Sherburne County  who uses the Waite Park site is charged for dropping off hazardous material. “That $40 charge goes to Sherburne County and comes out of our solid waste fund,” he said. “So that little old lady, she walks through the door, drops off her two-ounce bag of DDT or whatever it might happen to be,  smiles and goes on her way. So that’s a little bit different than digging into her purse.”

 

Exner said that’s correct, the county will get a monthly bill from Stearns County based on the number of Sherburne County residents who use it.

 

Funding for the program is budgeted through SCORE, and not by taxpayer dollars.

 

Exner also said the county will continue to host mobile hazardous waste events throughout the year,

although the cost is higher at $55 per vehicle.

 

“The transportation adds a lot of additional costs,” he said. “So it’s cheaper for our residents to go to the permanent facility in Waite Park.”

 

The new agreement runs through Dec. 31, 2017.

 

The facility is located at 3601 5th Street South in Waite Park. It is open Monday 9-5 and Tuesday through Friday 9-4.  It is also open the third Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. until noon.