WASTE TAX
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Waste Techn logy Inc.
410 - 11th Ave. So.
Hopkins, Minn. 55343
Phone (612) 935-6921
Automated Refuse
VAVir INC.
CollectIon Systems
Ci ty of Hopkins
City Hall
1010 S. 1st Street
Hopkins, Minnesota 55343
January 4, 1985
Attn. )ho. Bill Craig - City lfanager
Mr. Bob Miller - Mayor
Gentlemen.
Eff ctive January 1, 1985, the State of Minnesota has implemented a Landfill Abatement
Tax. The money collected from this tax is to be used for "landfill abatement purposes;
costs of closure, postclosure care and response actions and other adverse effects of
landfills". The tax will be 90~ per 600 lbs. of solid waste which converts to about
$19.80 per truckload. This tax will be shown as a separate line item on the monthly
bill beginning with January, 1985.
Based upon recent past weight figures for the City's solid waste, the monthly tax will
fall somewhere between $1,100.00 and $1,500.00 per month. Based upon the number of
homes, this ranges from 29~ to 45~ per home per month. It may be easier for you to
add om 50~ per month per home and keep the difference for increased accounting work.
This tax is based upon the "weight" or the "cubic yards" of solid waste brought into
every landfill in the state. The tax is applicable to "all" solid waste and must be
paid by all users, whether they are private or municipal.
W have calculated what the tax will be for Hopkins on both methods of payment and have
foud the tax to be considerably less if figured on a weight basis. We have inoluded
examples based upon the tonnage figures for M8y - November, 1984 for the City on the
attached sheet.
W ar very BOrry for the late date of this notice but we did not become aware of this
ohange in the state law until about four (4) weeks ago, and did not know the "exact
amount" until we received our notice from Flying Cloud Landfill this past week (se
attaohed sheet).
The entire solid waste disposal problem is becoming much more severe. The days of
dumping garbage into a hole in the ground are rapidly coming to an end. In fact, there
will be numerous drastic changes in the Metro area in the next two (2) years. Hennepin
County and the Metro Council are attempting to gain control of the waste stream to
direct it to the proposed regional transf'er stations (like Hopkins) and then to the
proposed $500 million incinerator downtown. Current landfill rates are $10 per ton
which costs each homeowner in Hopkins about $1.00 to $1.25 per month. When the proposed
incinerator goes on line, disposal costs will climb to about $60 per ton or about $6.00
to $1.00 per month per home! And, this does ~ include collection oosts!
FOr these reasoRs, we would encourage you to assess the homeowners the tax as a separat
item rather than including it in the lump sum on the utilities bill or taking it from the
general funds. We think it is extremely important that the individual citizen und rstands
what is about to happen and hopefully take a greater interest in recycling or other solid
waste reduction programs. We know that several council members have taken an interest
in such programs and under the circumstances, we would be willing to assist the City in
any way possible.
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Ci ty of' Hopkins (cont. page 2)
January 4, 1985
Attn: Mr. Jaill Craig
Mr. BobJ Miller
If the City were to be concerned about the integrity of the weights and the taxes
due, we would be available ^for an audit at any time.
Tha.nk you.
:MIC. dg
!he.
Sincerely,
Vi~/t7
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CITY OF HO~:mS SOLID WASTE TONNAGE FOR
MAY - NOVEMBER '!!' 1984
TONNAGE TAX ON
MONTH ( POUNDS ) LOADS CtJBIc. YARDS
- -
~ 25 - June 25, 1984 975,460# 85 $ 1,683.00
July 25 - Aug. 25, 1984 850,520# 1,275 71 1,405.80
Aug. 25 - Sept. 25, 1984 917,720# 1,376 83 1,643.40
Sept. 25 - Oct. 25, 1984 873,120# 1,309 79 1,564.00
. Oct. 25 - Nov. 25, 1984 72:5,380/1 1,085.00 76 1,504.00
As you can see, the tax based on a "weight" basis is as much as 1300.00 per month
1 ss than on a cubic yard basis. I would f;Ress it is because we d.on't always dump
a "full n truck load. and because there are times when bulky items fill up the truck
but do not weigh much.