Teapot Dome Landfill to Operate With Reduced Hours Starting Next Week

Tulare County residents and local agencies that need to dump their solid waste at the Teapot Dome Landfill, located just south of Porterville, will need to use alternate options starting next week due to a reduction in operating hours.

Past operating hours of the Teapot Dome Landfill were 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Starting next week, the Teapot Dome Landfill will be closed Monday through Wednesday.

The closest location for southeast Tulare County residents and agencies that need to use a solid waste facility is the Woodville Landfill, located on Rd. 152 at Ave. 200. The Woodville Landfill is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

The reduction in hours is a result of various measures approved in August by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors to help bridge a projected $5.1 million deficit to the County’s Solid Waste Enterprise Fund for Fiscal Year 2012-13. The actions included reducing operating hours at the Teapot Dome Landfill, increasing fees, closing four transfer stations, and requiring licensed refuse haulers to deliver waste to a landfill within the County.

Fifth District Supervisor Mike Ennis, who represents southeast Tulare County, said the actions taken by the Board of Supervisors were needed to prevent further operating losses to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. Enterprise funds are used for services provided to the public through user charges, which should cover 100 percent of the cost through no subsidy from the County. The reduction in operating hours at the Teapot Dome Landfill will save $440,000 per year in operating expenses.

“The Board’s policy is to provide services to the extent that they are funded responsibly,” Supervisor Ennis said. “We will continue to monitor the impacts to solid waste, and, if feasible, work with impacted communities to see if we can create solutions to maintain services.”

Supervisor Ennis said the reduction of hours at the Teapot Dome Landfill can be seen as a minor victory for Fifth District constituents. Prior to the Board’s August decision, complete closure of the Teapot Dome Landfill had been considered.

“I’ve worked closely with the County Administrative Office to ensure that residents in the Fifth District have solid waste services close to home,” Supervisor Ennis said.