It’s official – businesses in Haywood County will now have to pay to put their trash in the local landfill.

The fee will fund the $4.2 million expansion of the landfill and help pay for the state-imposed tax of $2 per ton of waste that took effect July 1.

Small businesses, which in some cases generate only one bag of trash a week, have been in an uproar about the fee. Business owners were concerned they would be charged the same amount as large volume businesses, like grocery stores and restaurants, which generate much more waste.

County Tax Administrator David Francis and Solid Waste Director Stephen King devised a formula they called “workable,” which clearly places large volume and small businesses in separate fee categories. It was approved by county commissioners Monday night (July 21).

Commissioners said the fee wasn’t an ideal solution, but there were no other options to generate the money needed to fund the landfill expansion.

“I hope our citizens understand what we’re trying to do is be fair to everyone,” said Commissioner Skeeter Curtis. “We’ve got some major, major costs facing us in the landfill in the next few years.”

The fees will appear on tax bills mailed out in September. The county will evaluate the success of the fee program by the end of the year.

The fees are as follows:

Department stores, large grocery stores, manufacturing industry, and restaurants with a seating capacity above 51 are considered large volume businesses, and pay 12 times the household fee of $65, or a total of $780 per year.

Apparel stores, convenience stores, small grocery stores and restaurants that seat less than 50 are also considered large volume businesses, but pay only six times the household fee, or a total of $390 per year.

Hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities; campgrounds; and storage units pay $15 per unit per year.

Small businesses pay based on the number of employees. With five or less, the fee is $65; six to 15, its $260; 16 or more, its $390 per year.