Tentative landfill deal could lower rates, save Peoria $1.6 million on waste disposal

A tentative deal is in place between the city of Peoria, Peoria County and GFL Environmental to open a new landfill as the current landfill in use barrels closer to reaching capacity .

Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich told the City Council on Tuesday night that a deal with GFL to address the landfill conundrum is close to completion. The agreement would not only see a new landfill built but would also "significantly" lower disposal rates.

The new landfill — which will be called "Landfill No. 3" — would not be open until 2035, however, meaning it will open roughly 10 years later than expected.

In the meantime, Urich said GFL has agreed to utilize a waste transfer station in Pottstown that will take 165,000 tons of garbage every year. That will be open by March 2026, Urich said.

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Urich said this plan ensures Peoria will have a place to dispose of its waste for at least the next 36 years.

Peoria's disposal rates will also be lowered from $90 per ton to $57.22 per ton. Urich said there is a $10 discount on top of that for Peoria waste that drops the final figure to $47.22 per ton.

Urich said the savings should be about $1.6 million for the city of Peoria.

The proposed deal also calls for host benefit fees to be paid to both the city of Peoria, the Landfill Committee and Peoria County for every ton of garbage dumped at the transfer station. Urich said the city and county will each receive 75 cents for each ton of waste, and the Landfill Committee will receive $1.50 for each ton of waste.

Next steps in getting the deal done are finalizing the paperwork and having the deal approved by Peoria County and the Landfill Committee at their September meetings before ultimately coming to the Peoria City Council for approval at its Sept. 24 meeting.

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Tentative landfill deal could lower rates, save Peoria $1.6 million on waste disposal