Waste Disposal Fee Increased in Illinois

Naperville, IL— An increase in state fees and taxes placed on waste disposal was added to business and residential trash bills beginning July 1 in Illinois.

The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) said its member companies are advising business and municipal customers that the new or increased fees will be reflected on their invoices taking effect over the next few weeks.

"The waste disposal industry in effect is serving as the State of Illinois revenue collector for these fee increases," said Tom Agema, general manager of Homewood Disposal Services and president of the Illinois Chapter of the NSWMA. "We regret that these increases will have an impact on our business, municipal and residential customers — but just like with sales taxes and user fees, it's the customer who winds up picking up the tab."

Chief among those affecting garbage pickup costs were a doubling of the state's solid waste management fee, or "tipping fee," from $1.07 per ton to $2.22 per ton, and a similar 100 percent increase in landfill permitting fees. The solid waste management fee increase alone has a $15 million impact on the industry. These fees are collected by landfill operators and forwarded to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

"These solid waste companies are among several industries in Illinois who have ended up in the unenviable position of telling their customers they must bear the brunt of the State's budget crisis," said Doug Whitley, president, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. "Businesses today are having a hard enough time keeping prices down in the wake of rising insurance, fuel and labor costs without having to pass on new state-imposed taxes and fees to their customers."