MSW and C&D Landfill Tipping Fees 2009 Solid Waste Management Update Landfill tipping fees across Georgia remain competitive with other Southeastern states. Posted gate rate tipping fees have steadily risen in recent years, but the high volume of waste sent to Georgia for disposal from other states indicates the actual contract prices per ton remain attractive to waste hauling companies, compared with our neighboring states. Annually during the month of July, DCA conducts a phone survey of the landfills in the state to identify their posted "gate rate" tipping fee to calculate regional and statewide average disposal fees. Based upon these surveys, the average tipping fee for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the state increased from $34.92 in 2008 to $35.97 in 2009. (see insert next page) It should be noted that the fees reported represent an average of the posted gate rates charged by landfills throughout the state; actual prices paid are frequently lower, sometimes by more than half, depending on volume discounts offered to waste haulers, businesses, and local governments. Also, several large Atlanta landfills post high gate rates in an effort to dissuade customers with small loads. Regionally, most parts of the state saw slight increases in tipping fees, but in Coastal Georgia, the weighted average jumped five dollars per ton to $52.23, by far the most expensive in the state. The City of Savannah's use of a waste-to-energy incinerator had been a large driver for the region's high disposal costs, and the closure of that facility was expected to reduce tipping fees at competing landfills, but that has not occurred. DCA also tracks tipping fees for Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste. C&D tipping fees fell from a statewide weighted average of $23.72 to $21.46 per ton. 2009 Landfill Tipping Fees MSW C&D Legend Data Not Available $14.00- $20.00 $20.01 - $25.00 $25.01 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 D-1 Revised April 7, 2010 MSW and C&D Landfill Tipping Fees 2009 Update Region Northwest Georgia* North Georgia Coosa Valley Georgia Mountains Atlanta Regional Commission Three Rivers* Chattahoochee Flint McIntosh Trail Northeast Georgia Middle Georgia Central Savannah River Area River Valley* Lower Chattahoochee Middle Flint Heart of Georgia-Altamaha Southwest Georgia Southern Georgia* South Georgia Southeast Georgia Coastal Georgia State of Georgia 2009 Average MSW Tipping Fee $33.28 $31.49 $33.82 $39.02 $37.36 $33.52 $30.00 $33.41 $37.75 $27.21 $33.48 $34.84 $27.50 $35.81 $30.19 $30.25 $39.13 $42.70 $40.10 $52.23 $35.97 2008 Average MSW Tipping Fee $32.21 $31.57 $32.50 $37.51 $36.80 $31.83 $30.00 $32.01 $36.76 $29.64 $33.44 $34.95 $27.50 $35.83 $30.22 $25.62 $35.48 $41.89 $30.51 $47.28 $34.92 2007 Average MSW Tipping Fee $32.26 $31.65 $32.57 $37.20 $38.26 $31.95 $30.00 $32.17 $36.69 $27.88 $33.50 $35.37 $27.50 $37.58 $30.16 $24.99 $35.08 $39.04 $30.49 $47.13 $35.08 *These Regional Commissions were formed by the 2008 restructuring of the Regional Planning Commissions. Several merged; as a result these tables include both structures to provide continuity of reporting. It is interesting to note however that this increasing trend is not consistent throughout the state. The average MSW tipping fee actually decreased in the ARC by $0.90/ton from 2007, and increased by $5.26/ton in the Southwest Region. Region Northwest Georgia* North Georgia Coosa Valley Georgia Mountains Atlanta Regional Commission Three Rivers* Chattahoochee Flint McIntosh Trail Northeast Georgia Middle Georgia Central Savannah River Area River Valley* Lower Chattahoochee Middle Flint Heart of Georgia-Altamaha Southwest Georgia Southern Georgia* South Georgia Southeast Georgia Coastal Georgia State of Georgia 2009 Average C&D Tipping Fee $24.98 $28.03 $33.82 $33.97 $20.18 $33.52 $30.00 $30.22 $25.19 20.35 $31.51 $23.26 $25.50 $22.50 $27.28 $22.83 $35.32 $33.34 $31.23 $16.84 $21.46 2008 Average C&D Tipping Fee $23.28 $25.75 $32.50 $32.29 $18.07 $31.83 $30.00 $29.58 $24.74 $16.26 $30.56 $23.45 $25.50 $22.50 $26.50 $19.73 $37.69 $39.50 $22.00 $30.38 $23.72 2007 Average C&D Tipping Fee $19.23 n/a $32.57 $27.28 $22.42 $31.95 $30.00 $26.55 $23.37 $15.50 $30.54 $24.23 $25.50 $22.50 $25.36 n/a $22.00 n/a $22.00 $21.63 $21.11 Looking at C&D rates can reveal some puzzling findings. Coastal Georgia has had the highest MSW tipping fees for years, but since 2008 the C&D rate dropped to the lowest in the state. D - 2 Revised April 7, 2010 MSW and C&D Landfill Tipping Fees 2009 Update MSW 2008 Landfill Tipping Fees Legend $24.00 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 $40.01 - $45.00 $45.01 - $50.00 C&D Legend Data Not Available $14.00- $20.00 $20.01 - $25.00 $25.01 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 MSW 2007 Landfill Tipping Fees C&D Legend $24.00 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 $40.01 - $45.00 $45.01 - $50.00 Legend Data Not Available $14.00- $20.00 $20.01 - $25.00 $25.01 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 D - 3 Revised April 7, 2010