Mayor Announces Hardy Road Landfill Agreement |
(November 9, 1998)-The City of Akron has finalized an agreement with Akron Regional Landfill Inc, a subsidiary corporation of Waste Management, for the lease of the Hardy Road Landfill and sale of an adjacent 235-acre parcel for $11.2 million. Akron Regional Landfill, Inc. will begin operating the Hardy Road Landfill on Saturday, November 7 and seek EPA approval to develop a new landfill on the adjacent parcel. The City will continue to use the Hardy Road Landfill and pay a tipping fee of $17.75 a ton. The average tipping fee in Northeast Ohio is approximately $29.00 a ton. "The City negotiated the low tipping fee so we can maintain our curb service rates for Akron residents," said the Mayor. Akron residents pay $11.50 per month for curb service. The City decided to lease the landfill in the face of mounting operating costs and environmental expenditures. "The lease of the Hardy Road Landfill will relieve Akron taxpayers of the $2 million yearly cost to operate the facility and approximately $15 million in upcoming EPA mandated closing costs," said the Mayor. The agreement also calls for the City to receive an estimated $450,000 in annual royalty payments for all waste put into the new landfill. Akron Regional Landfill Inc. paid the City $2.4 million on Friday, November 6 and will pay the remaining $8.8 million once the EPA approves the new landfill. The approval process is expected to take approximately 3 years. Akron City Council passed legislation on July 27 authorizing the sale and expansion of the landfill. The eight City workers at the landfill will be reassigned to other departments. Waste Management is based in Houston, Texas and operates 250 landfills throughout the country. |