Stickers and Fees

Stickers

As of August 1, 1991, residents of St. Mary's County must obtain a Residential Disposal Permit Sticker to use the St. Andrews Landfill and any of the six Convenience Stations. Vehicles without a Permit Sticker will not be allowed to dispose of waste at the St. Andrews Landfill or Convenience Center Facilities. Residents using the Convenience Centers for recycling only do not need to obtain a permit sticker.

Permit Application

To obtain a Permit Sticker, the applicant must have the vehicle registration, complete an application, and provide the necessary proof of residency either in the form of a valid driver's license, lease- rental agreement, tax bill, or military service identification. The Solid Waste Residential Permit applications are available at all Convenience Centers, the Scale House Facility at the St. Andrews Landfill, and the Department of Public Works and Transportation. A sample permit is available for viewing on-line to ensure citizens are aware of the information needed to complete an application.

Sticker Fee

At this time there is no charge for the stickers. Stickers must be affixed on the lower, left-hand corner of the vehicles windshield.

Environmental and Solid Waste Service Fee

On May 15, 2007 the Commissioners of St. Mary's County adopted Ordinance No. 2007-04 which established an Environmental and Solid Waste Service Fee. The established annual rate is $60 per dwelling unit and will be imposed on all improved residential properties effective July 1, 2007. Billing and collection will be performed via the County Treasurer's Office on the property tax statements as a separate item, with payment either received or postmarked before December 31 of the year in which the fee is due. The purpose of the fee is to assess a portion of the costs associated with the availability of solid waste disposal and recycling services to the community. The fee may be adjusted via Resolution by the Commissioners of St. Mary's County prior to June 1 each year.

Disposal Fees

Residents self-hauling solid waste, rubble or yard waste to the St. Andrews Landfill Facility will be assessed at $10.00 per standard pickup truck load (approximately ¼ ton). Effective July 1, 2006, loads in excess of this amount will be weighed and assessed at a rate of $65 per ton. Effective July 1, 2012, a new discounted Green Waste fee rate of $40 per ton was implemented for oversized loads of yard waste. The Department of Public Works has the authority to waive the imposition of fees for various classes of clean fills, rubble or other materials when it is determined to be a benefit to the County (ie. fill dirt, debris from Christmas in April, trash collection from parks and along roadways etc.). Residents may bring up to five (5) passenger car/light truck tires to the tire recycling collection area at the landfill at no charge. Loads in excess of five tires, tires larger than passenger car/light truck tires and Commercial haulers will be assessed $158.00 per ton for the disposal of tires. Residents may also drop off "white goods" (refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, hot water heaters and air conditioners) for free. The Fees are updated periodically as a part of the Solid Waste Rules and Regulations.

Commercial Accounts

Commercial haulers wishing to dispose of rubble at the St. Andrews Landfill Facility must be inspected by the Department of Environmental Health as a part of the County's annual application process. Currently, the landfill is closed to commercial haulers for the disposal of solid waste. The Department of Public Works application and corresponding pre-numbered vehicle identification stickers are assigned at no cost to the haulers. Reminders for application renewal are typically forwarded to the respective vendors with the County's November invoicing. The Department uses the Great Plains Software Program to track and process monthly invoices/statements which are usually mailed by the 5th of each month to all vendors. Delinquent or past due accounts are also tracked and the statement will tell the hauler that "Your Account is Currently Delinquent". Depending on the age of the past due amounts, different actions are recommended by the Finance Department. Vendor accounts not paid by 30 days are reminded of the past due account and interest at 10% is applied to the account. If no payment is made by vendors within 45 days, vendors are advised, "If not paid in 15 days, Cash Basis Only". At 60 days, vendors are placed on a "CASH ONLY BASIS' until all past due amounts have been paid. At 60 days, vendors are advised, "If Not Paid in 15 days, Dumping is Prohibited". Those vendors placed on a "NO DUMPING BASIS" will not be allowed to dump until the account is paid in full. Those firms that fall into the 75 days and over aging category are sent a collection letter. Those that do not respond are turned over to the Legal Department for collection through the District Court.