When you’re in the process of a big project or task that requires a dumpster rental, a few things probably cross your mind. You probably stop and think about size, location, company, durability, and all the do’s and don’ts.
Do you ever stop and think about where the waste goes after filling the dumpster? If it hasn’t crossed your mind, let it sink in now. Here’s what you need to know about landfill tipping fees.
What Is a Tipping Fee?
A landfill tipping fee is a little different from tipping wait staff at a restaurant. There is a proper tact to it, and it’s important to know the information and details before making the commitment to a dumpster rental.
A landfill tipping fee, or a gate fee, is paid by anyone who disposes of waste in a landfill. They base the fee on the weight of the waste per ton. Don’t always assume the company will handle the tipping fee. The price usually trickles down to the waste generator through fees and taxes.
Essentially, you’ll be paying for the dumpster and the costs of disposing of what’s inside. Note that the tipping fees are not a way for companies to make money. The fees ensure the landfills follow state and federal regulations.
As you can imagine, landfills see a lot of use on a daily basis, and personnel must ensure operations run smoothly. The dumping site may seem unorganized, but there is a method to the madness. Keep in mind that tipping fees may also apply to composters. Companies can choose to increase or decrease the price at their discretion.
Landfill Disposal History
Landfill sites have come a long way. Waste has been around since the beginning of time, but the world hasn’t always known how to dispose of it safely. When landfills first came on the scene, there was no tipping fee.
Governments and citizens used strategies like dumping trash in random and unmarked locations. In some cases, they even buried the waste. Since the US did not have a proper waste system or landfill regulations, burning the trash was common. It cleared out easily and created more space for additional waste.
Early and Late 1900s
In the early 1900s, burning waste was the most energy and cost-efficient solution. It became so popular that the US government created incinerator plants, which helped to generate electricity. In 1937, they moved away from burning or burying waste and opened the first sanitary landfill plant.
Unfortunately, the alternatives didn’t work out for the plant, so decision-makers had to come up with another solution. In 1965, Congress passed the Solid Waste Disposal Act and established the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970. When a landfill collects waste, the managers must abide by certain rules and regulations.
Managing a Landfill
Tipping fees manage the operational costs for the landfill. Dumping sites have specific gate rates in order to keep the plant in production. Determining the rate is a delicate balance. Landfill managers don’t want to overcharge, but they also don’t want to go under. Setting too low of a price will make it difficult to adhere to state and federal regulations.
The entire administrative process goes beyond landfilling. Managers need to consider things like engineering, long-term planning, education, and landfill gas waste-to-energy.
Engineering
The engineering sector of the plant focuses on the machinery and equipment required to keep everything operational. A landfill needs a bulldozer, and more than one might be necessary, depending on the size of the site.
Every dozer requires maintenance, and some sites might rent them by the hour. Site managers will have to factor in size, weight, and pressure to organize assets.
Long-term planning
Every plant needs to account for further development and planning. If a plant generates more waste than it can handle, management will need to start strategizing new tactics for the influx of garbage.
With the planning, they may need to hire new personnel and staff. More people means more money for those crew members and more time needed to train them.
Education
Educating every staff member will take time. They may need to attend informational courses to know the ins and outs of the dump site.
There is a proper way to dispose of certain items, and knowing these specifics keeps everyone on the site safe, as there is always a possibility of encountering improperly handled hazardous waste.
Landfill Waste-to-Gas Energy
Burned gas produces energy and conducts electricity. Landfill gas energy (LFG) captures about 60 to 90 percent of methane generated from a landfill.
Plants use the gas to help operate and generate power instead of releasing it back into the atmosphere. Waste plants need the proper equipment to keep this process going.
Publicity
All landfill sites need to adhere to federal and state guidelines. A site that does not know how to dispose of waste properly is harmful to the environment. These sites need to advertise and publicize their expertise professionally.
You’ll want to ensure the landfill staff will safely handle whatever waste you produce. Here at Vine Disposal, we have dumpster rentals in Cumming, GA for you to purchase. From there, we can tell you about the landfill options and any requirements you may need to follow.
Special Projects
Ensure you’re prepared to handle the tipping fees for your special projects. Because landfill sites have to factor so much into their pricing, be sure to include those fees in your budget.
Leave some wiggle room to factor in those unexpected costs. Remember, the landfill site has the right to increase pricing at its own discretion, depending on the waste you need to dispose of. Most people assume anything goes for a dumpster rental bound for the landfill, but that’s not the case.
You’ll also want to make sure you don’t exceed the dumpster’s weight limit. Doing so will add to the overage fee, and that could influence the tipping fee.
You may have thought you didn’t need to know much about landfill tipping fees, but it never hurts to learn some new information! For more, visit our website.
