Walton County residents will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets come April 1, when tossing their trash will cost more at the local recycling center. According to a recent announcement, the Walton County Board of Commissioners greenlit a fee hike during their March 5 meeting as a response to increased costs in their Waste Disposal Agreement with the City of Monroe. The new scale rate is jumping from $65 to $70 per ton, alongside a new minimum fee of 5 bucks per dump at the Keep Walton Beautiful Recycling Center.
Trying to encourage residents to opt for more sustainable disposal methods, county officials are pointing towards programs designed to reduce waste. The Pay as You Throw and Green Bag initiatives are deemed alternatives to chucking smaller household trash. The latter program allows folks to use specially purchased bags, going for $2.50 each, that can be dropped off at County Convenience Centers or directly at the recycling center. Last year, the center processed a hefty 3,543 tons of refuse, and just two months into 2024, over 2,288 cars have parked on the scale, depositing an average of 261 tons a month.
"The increase in revenue will help offset any costs Walton County Public Works incurs for solid waste disposal and will allow us to continue offering services that reflect our customers' needs," according to an official statement posted on Walton County's website. This statement implies that the fee increase is not just for show, but a necessary measure to sustain the recycling center's operations and services.
