Wastewater sludge would shift to the closer, cheaper Camelot Landfill under a $350,000 cap the council weighs Wednesday

The City Council is set to approve up to $350,000 on Wednesday for hauling the solid waste left over from treating The Colony's sewage to a landfill less than half as far away as the one the city uses now.

The resolution is on the consent agenda for the Nov. 4 regular session, which starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 6053 Main St. Consent items pass in a single vote unless a council member pulls one for discussion.

What gets hauled

The wastewater treatment plant runs its solids through a belt press, and the sludge that comes out has to go to a landfill approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The city averages about 550 tons of it a month, according to a staff memo in the agenda packet.

Today that sludge goes to the City of Denton Landfill, about 26.2 miles from the plant. Denton's solid waste department told the city its sludge rate is unchanged this year at $61.50 a ton.

Camelot Landfill, operated by Republic Services, is about 11 miles from the plant and charges $50.25 a ton. Staff called it "both the closer and less expensive option" and plan to make it the primary disposal site, keeping Denton's landfill as a backup.

Fees on top of the base rate

Republic's quote to the city adds an environmental fee of $19.71 per truckload and a fuel recovery charge that changes monthly and currently stands at 16.12%.

The paperwork is not consistent on when Camelot's price goes up. The staff summary says the city anticipates a 5% increase in January and built that into the $350,000 figure, while the Republic Services email attached to the item says the 5% increase takes effect Aug. 1, 2027.

At the base rates alone, 550 tons a month works out to roughly $332,000 a year at Camelot and about $406,000 at Denton, before Camelot's per-load and fuel charges. Public Works described the request as a slight increase over last year that reflects residential and commercial growth.

Also on Wednesday's agenda

• Two public hearings on specific use permits: one for indoor-only auto parts and accessory sales in a 2,060-square-foot suite at 4177 Main St., and one for a precious metals coin dealer in a 924-square-foot suite at 5000 Main St. Both sites are in the Gateway Overlay District.
• A vote on reappointing Jeremie Maurina as the city's representative on the Denton County Transportation Authority board, with Stephen Christo as alternate.
• A proclamation for National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week and a Parks and Recreation preview of upcoming events.

Sources

thecolony.granicus.com

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