Landfill fee changes going into effect

Throwing away televisions, microwaves and computer monitors now has a fee associated with it.

Starting today, the Onslow County landfill is charging residents $15 to throw away televisions and computer monitors and $5 to throw away microwaves. Previously, the items were considered household trash and could be thrown away with regular trash items.

The new fee is due to an electronics recycling program the county is starting through Keep Onslow Beautiful, said Lisa Grant, administrator for KOB.

Grant said items such as microwaves, televisions and computer monitors are the most costly to recycle, which is why the new fee has been implemented.

"Televisions are going to be banned from the landfill very soon, so we're just trying to gear up for that," she said.

For residents who don't want to pay the fee, Grant recommended hanging on to electronics until one of the local Wal-Mart stores holds an electronic recycling event where items can be dropped off free of charge.

"They can hold off, they can wait for a collection event day," she said. "(The fee) is mainly for people who are trying to get rid of something right away and don't want to hold off but want to do the right thing."

Solid Waste Fees (* represents a fee increase)

Landfill

*Municipal solid waste & household trash $47 per ton

(includes furniture)

Recyclables No charge

Special handling (asbestos, etc.) $52.25

Sludge $47 per ton

Inert debris(brick, rocks, concrete, untreated wood) $25 per ton

Construction and demolition $47 per ton

Vehicle weigh-ins  $1 each

State disposal tax $2 per ton

*Yard waste/vegetative debris $25 per ton

*Television & computer monitors $15

*Microwaves $5

Container site

Sale of county 30 gallon bag $1.50 each

Any other 30 gallon bag $1.50 each

Household furniture $3 each

Recyclable No charge

Tires

Out of state tires                                                      $.75 each

Tires or rims                                                              $.25 each

Tires that don't qualify for free disposal         $.75 each