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The Lincoln County Fiscal Court has approved a new agreement for the Tri-K Landfill that includes a new voucher program for Lincoln County households.

Fiscal Court approved the new agreement with Republic Services, which owns and operates the Tri-K Landfill, during the May 10 meeting.

According to documents regarding the Landfill Host Agreement and Community Partnership, Republic Services proposed a series of community enhancement proposals.

“We are committed to working with Lincoln County Fiscal Court and county residents on everyone’s shared goals to prevent litter, eliminate illegal dumping and assist those in need with nuisance violations, while providing support for a successful solid waste management program for Lincoln County,” the agreement states.

In the new agreement, Republic Services will continue to pay $1 per ton amount for waste entering the landfill but will offset all animal disposal costs for Lincoln County, which is about $70,000 per year.

“Republic Services recognizes the challenges in managing deceased animal carcasses and proposes to offset all animal disposal costs at Tri-K Landfill for Lincoln County,” the agreement states. “Further, we commit to exploring an animal composting alternative with Lincoln County.”

The agreement also eliminates the $400 per month fee for waste disposal for the Lincoln County Fiscal Court and instead offers a no-cost disposal for up to 300 tons of solid waste per year.

A new voucher program is also offered with the new agreement.

Republic Services will implement a Landfill Voucher Program in cooperation with the fiscal court, giving all households up to four vouchers per year for the disposal of solid waste at no cost.

“Additionally, Republic Services proposes to provide an additional 100 vouchers per year to Lincoln County Nuisance Board to dispense to property owners in violation of the nuisance ordinance to assist with property cleanup,” the agreement states.

Lincoln County Judge Executive Jim Adams said if all of the vouchers are used and the tonnage associated with the $1 per ton fee increases as projected, the county stands to save $141,325 annually.

Adams said the county will immediately see savings with the animal carcass disposal agreement.

“By agreeing to this host agreement and community enhancements, Republic Services is able to increase the daily tonnage into Tri-K Landfill by 50 percent immediately, resulting in an economic benefit on Day 1,” the agreement states.