Dumpster Deal Costs County $79K each month
Washington County Weighs $79,000 Monthly Cost From Dumpster Program
A county finance official told the Board of Supervisors this week that Washington County's move into running its own garbage dumpster and litter-control box program is now costing about $79,000 a month.
At the board's regular meeting Oct. 5, the official, identified in meeting records as Carter, whose role was not clearly confirmed amid overlapping dialogue, addressed supervisors directly. "I just want the board to be mindful of the cost that we've taken on since we've gone into the... business... $79,000 a month... that's just the boxes," the official said, stressing the figure applies only to the dumpster boxes and not the county's broader garbage collection expenses. No vote was taken on the figure during the meeting, but board members acknowledged the county is now carrying costs it has not previously had to budget for.
The disclosure marks the first time in open session that the expense of the county's in-house dumpster operation has been quantified, according to the meeting record. The cost had not been built into prior budget discussions, raising questions about how the county will account for it going forward.