Transfer Station Likely to Drop Commercial Rates

is saying goodbye to the leaf bag business and most likely saying hello to lower commercial dumping fees at the

Solid-waste coordinator Jim Bunchuck spoke with the Town Board on Tuesday morning, and after a discussion the board determined that because sealed leaf bags are not mandatory, it would be in the best interest of the town to get out of the practice completely.

Bunchuck also said he wants to lower the dumping rates at the Cox Lane transfer station, a move board members are hoping will draw local contractors to the facility. 

A strong first half of the year is allowing the department to be flexible in its rates.

"We've already taken in through June 28 what we took through all of last year," Bunchuck said.

Currently the town's rate is $95 per ton for commercial vehicles, or 4.75 cents per pound. If commercial vehicles bring in over 100 tons a month those numbers are reduced to $82.50 per ton.

Bunchuck proposed dropping the flat commercial rate down to $4. The town is not going to touch the reduced rate – it can come back later and change those should that arise, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said.

"We're not looking to make money on refuse-taking," Russell said. "We got savings in the new bid, and we're looking to pass the savings along to contractors and at the same produce a revenue stream."

A Town Board resolution would be required to change the rates.

After paying to cap the town landfill in 2003, the town still owes over $7 million in debt service, according to Councilman Bill Ruland, who said he would favor a three- to six-month test period with lower fees to make sure the town isn't losing ground on the debt it owes.

"You can't lose sight of that. The debt service on that alone is staggering," he said Tuesday night. "That debt's not going away."

While getting out of the leaf bag business would rid the town of its responsibility as supplier to local vendors, it may also be in the best interest of the small businesses selling the bags retail.

Bunchuck said that a local supermarket was recently found not to be reporting sales tax levies on the bags, a practice reportedly mandatory because the bags are not required for town leaf pickup. Town-issued trash bags, by contrast, are not taxed because residents are required to use them when dumping with the town.

Supervisor Russell said a letter would be drafted informing the 13 local vendors selling the bags that approximately 12,000 remain and would be sold at a quantity of 1,000 to each interested vendor.