(KAIR)--City of Atchison residents are questioning the inclusion of a new county tipping fee on their latest utility bills, with the City of Atchison taking to social media to offer clarification.

At issue is the inclusion of the message "county tipping fee of $4 will begin on February, 2026" on the latest round of utility bills, with city leaders, in a release, saying the issue was discussed at November and December meetings of the Atchison City Commission, explaining that after passing the 2026 budget last year, the City was notified by Atchison County that a per-ton tipping fee would now be charged to dump trash at the county landfill. When averaged out, that cost came to nearly five dollars per month per household.

To reduce the impact on residents, the City says it's taking three steps: rounding the fee down to four dollars and covering the difference, covering the entire fee for the month of January so residents receive advance notice, and exploring new recycling options.
Officials note the county’s recycling tipping fee is nearly double the cost of regular trash.

Atchison County Commission Chair Casey Quinn, in a social media response, says the decision came after the county learned sales tax revenue would not fully cover solid waste costs through the end of the year, with Atchison City Manager Mark Westhoff and service provider Martin Trash notified, leading to an October workshop where, Quinn says, the financial shortfall was reviewed.

The County’s current costs are listed at just over $50 per ton for trash and $103 per ton for recycling, with rates subject to change based on market conditions.