WCS generates nearly $2 million to county

Waste Control Specialists’ low-level disposal facility experienced a very strong second half of the recently completed fiscal year. That fact was evident with the county’s take from the disposal facility’s production. Andrews County receives a five percent surcharge on gross receipts from the facility. WCS’ final quarter payment recently received by the county was among the best since the facility became operational in 2010. The check of $864,797 ranks as WCS’ third highest quarterly payment to the county and is the second most among the fourth quarter payments—the best was $880,000 in 2014, according to county officials. Additionally, Andrews received one of its best-ever third quarter checks ($568,865) last quarter. The county concluded the fiscal year with $1.95 million in overall payments from WCS. postal surcharge and a one-time payment from Vermont for inclusion in the Texas-Vermont disposal operation.

WCS’ low-level disposal facility is comprised of the Texas-Vermont Compact Landfill and the larger federal landfill that takes mostly waste from U.S. Department of Energy projects. The compact landfill can accept waste from Texas and Vermont, along with 33 other states outside the compact. But non-compact customers must go through the Texas Low-Level Compact Commission for approval. WCS representatives have said the compact landfill generates more business than the federal landfill. Initially, it was expected to be the other way around—with the larger federal landfill anticipated to be busier. But since the facility was constructed, more federally-owned disposal options have become available and other private competition exists for the DOE waste. The funding generated from the surcharge on the low-level facility has been a tremendous asset to Andrews County. Numerous community projects relating to “public good” have been made possible through WCS money, according to county officials. The majority of the WCS funds received by the county—90 percent—go into the Legacy Fund—otherwise known as Fund 47—for projects related to “public good,” while the other 10 percent is dedicated to the county’s Fund 39, according to county officials. The Community Legacy Committee, which began functioning in 2017, accepts project applications for possible WCS funding, before vetting the requests and potentially recommending them for commissioners court approval.