Council hears from private waste company

During a brief meeting Tuesday evening, Thermopolis Town Council heard from Bruce Leven, the operations manager and site manager for Wyoming Waste Systems out of Riverton.

Leven, who has visited with council previously, wanted to present the idea of his company taking over waste disposal from the landfill, essentially privatizing the system when the landfill permit expires on June 12, 2020.

Council previously had a work session regarding options when the permit expires. Though a lifetime permit of 25 years is available it would require lining the southern half of the landfill and the town would have to prove it would not leak.

Other options discussed at the work session include transferring the waste to other area landfills via packer truck or transfer station. Area landfills that might take waste from the area include Worland, Cody, Sand Draw and Casper.

A packer truck might work if the waste were hauled a short distance — such as to Worland — and a transfer station and different trucks would be necessary if the waste was hauled longer distances.

One of the biggest factors in determining what to do with the landfill is grant funding. Around 2006 or 2007 solid waste studies were funded. Between 2008 and 2010, the Legislature started setting aside money for transfer stations, and decided on 30 locations for them based on the studies and landfill permits. Locations were further prioritized, and $40 million was set aside; of the 30 locations, there was enough for 22 of the stations. Thermopolis was 24.

Wyoming Waste Systems currently provides services for Kirby.