The Garnants want to build a transfer station where collected trash could be dumped and then hauled to a private landfill in Illinois. As proposed, Banner Valley Hauling would handle 50 percent of the county's trash. But if the proposed Valley Transfer station takes half of Bluestem's business and therefore half of its revenue that comes solely from tipping fees, four or five Bluestem-funded programs could be at risk, Hogan said. A recycling center at the County Home Road Bluestem Landfill site could be jeopardized. Money supporting research into landfill alternatives could be at risk.
Hogan is also leery of the liability created by trucking trash elsewhere.
Private landfill owners offer indemnification a protection against damage or loss. But Hogan said liability is always traced back to a waste source a municipality or corporation and never goes away. And a city is more likely to outlast a corporation, he said. Cell, on the other hand, believes a corporate landfill like BFI adds another layer of protection in the event of liability action. In the event of a mishap, he said, a corporation with deep pockets is more likely and able to take the brunt of any fines or legal costs.