A decision to strictly enforce its ordinance allowing residents to take only one free load of trash to the landfill per month was due to past abuses by private businesses, Tyler city officials said Wednesday.
The city of Tyler allows residents to take one 3-cubic-yard load to the Greenwood Landfill each month at no charge. This service is paid for by the city of Tyler for the convenience of Tyler Solid Waste residential customers only.
Tyler Solid Waste Director Dan Brotton said local businesses were abusing this practice and the bill to the city had doubled over the last few years to more than $110,000.
To curb this abuse, the city put all residents on notice that effective July 19, residential solid waste customers depositing free loads at the landfill must present a current water bill and identification with an address matching the address on the water bill.
Mayor Joey Seeber said this is not a new rule, but a decision by the city to strictly enforce the ordinance already in place.
The city's current contract with the Greenwood Landfill does not allow third parties to use someone else's water bill to get a free trip to the landfill.
"We're trying to get out of the business of subsidizing lawn maintenance businesses," Brotton said. "This was something originally designed to benefit the person trying to take care of his own property. It was originally for the guy out working on his lawn on Saturday."
For those concerned about what to do with lawn waste, Brotton said the city still picks up lawn debris on Wednesdays as part of its regular service. The only requirement is brush must be cut to five-foot lengths and placed in two-foot diameter bundles at the curb. Clippings placed in bags will also be carted away on Wednesdays.
The Greenwood Landfill is about five miles east of Loop 323 on Farm-to-Market Road 2767. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
The regular disposal fee for the landfill is $6.25 per cubic yard, with special prices for appliances and tires. There is also a surcharge for uncovered loads. Citizens are required by law to cover their load of refuse during the trip to the landfill. Canvas tarps or heavy plastic covers can be used to hold the refuse in the vehicle and prevent debris from falling out and littering the roadside.
