LOCKPORT – The Niagara County Refuse Disposal District will reduce household hazardous waste drop-off days and may close its construction and demolition landfill on some Saturdays.
The district also will haul leachate from its closed Lockport landfill to the City of Lockport wastewater-treatment plant, not to Newfane, in an effort to save money, Interim Director Dawn M. Timm told the district board Monday.
Timm said she expects that the new household hazardous waste policy will double participation, because the new drop-offs all will be on Saturdays.
However, there will be only four during the year: one each at the household hazardous waste disposal sites in Lockport, Lewiston, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda.
Now, there is one appointment-only date per month at each of the four sites, but only from April through October, Timm said. They have all been on weekdays.
The Saturday dates, which have yet to be chosen, still will be available by appointment only, in line with the district’s state permit.
The district, which used to staff the sites with its own employees, has awarded a contract to the company Clean Harbors to handle the task. Also, it has applied for a $24,500 state reimbursement.
The construction and demolition landfill in Lockport, the district’s only active landfill, currently is open Saturday mornings. Timm suggested that limiting the Saturday hours to May through September would save $3,000 in overtime.
The County Legislature passed an across-the-board 5 percent cut in overtime for 2013. Timm said that if hours are not reduced, she can’t stay within her budget.
Also, Timm won approval of moving the treatment of 2.1 million gallons a year of Lockport landfill leachate. Newfane won the contract last year with a bid of 7.25 cents per 1,000 gallons, while Lockport sought a 14-cent rate.
Lockport has now cut its rate to 9 cents per 1,000 gallons and also is waiving permit fees totaling $725. Timm said the reduced fuel cost for the shorter trips will produce an overall savings estimated at $3,622 a year. Lockport’s rate is locked in until May 2016, Timm said.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com
The district also will haul leachate from its closed Lockport landfill to the City of Lockport wastewater-treatment plant, not to Newfane, in an effort to save money, Interim Director Dawn M. Timm told the district board Monday.
Timm said she expects that the new household hazardous waste policy will double participation, because the new drop-offs all will be on Saturdays.
However, there will be only four during the year: one each at the household hazardous waste disposal sites in Lockport, Lewiston, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda.
Now, there is one appointment-only date per month at each of the four sites, but only from April through October, Timm said. They have all been on weekdays.
The Saturday dates, which have yet to be chosen, still will be available by appointment only, in line with the district’s state permit.
The district, which used to staff the sites with its own employees, has awarded a contract to the company Clean Harbors to handle the task. Also, it has applied for a $24,500 state reimbursement.
The construction and demolition landfill in Lockport, the district’s only active landfill, currently is open Saturday mornings. Timm suggested that limiting the Saturday hours to May through September would save $3,000 in overtime.
The County Legislature passed an across-the-board 5 percent cut in overtime for 2013. Timm said that if hours are not reduced, she can’t stay within her budget.
Also, Timm won approval of moving the treatment of 2.1 million gallons a year of Lockport landfill leachate. Newfane won the contract last year with a bid of 7.25 cents per 1,000 gallons, while Lockport sought a 14-cent rate.
Lockport has now cut its rate to 9 cents per 1,000 gallons and also is waiving permit fees totaling $725. Timm said the reduced fuel cost for the shorter trips will produce an overall savings estimated at $3,622 a year. Lockport’s rate is locked in until May 2016, Timm said.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com