Any recent trip to the county landfill has been met with the new scales that were completed and began weighing the valley’s garbage on July 1.
For many months, the public has also braced for possible rate increases when disposing of trash but Ryan Lyman wants to reassure the community that the rates for the vast majority of the public have not changed.

“People will notice a difference in how we’re asking them to approach the min,” stated the landfill supervisor.  “It’s now one-way traffic and everybody will stop at the red light as they enter and leave the facility.  We like to think that we got the valley’s first traffic light.”

Lyman went on to say that possible rate increases will be determined by the county commissioners and that they will not revisit the issue until July of 2010.  Until that time, the weighing of the valley’s refuse brings the facility in line with Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations.  In addition, it also will allow the facility to gauge just how much garbage Star Valley residents produce.

“Everybody is asking what the rates are,” added Lyman.  “They’re the same as they’ve been.  The costs are incurred when you bring in a large load such as a large horse trailer or a dump truck.  Even then, the most you might be paying is ten dollars.  For the large majority of folks, there will be no charge.  We are weighing things right now but we aren’t charging by weight.  We do want people to get used to the idea so people can get an idea of how much garbage they make.  Up until now, they really haven’t had any idea.”

Lyman went on to say that the ability to put a number on  just how much trash the average valley resident brings in will help them be more precise in long-range plans.

Your costs in the future?  It will be up to elected officials.

“Whether or not the costs go up based on weight is one hundred percent up to the commissioners,” concluded Lyman.  “They voted not to change it this year.”

Lyman stressed that many questions can be answered by visiting the county’s website at www.lcwy.org and clicking on the landfill link.  The landfill can also be reached at 883-4666.  The hours for the Lincoln County facility near Thayne is from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The facility is closed on holidays as well as the day before Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas.