PINEVILLE — Bell Countians could see their garbage bills increase if contracts are renewed with a company that plans to charge more for use of their landfills.

Waste Connections, Inc., a company that transports Bell County waste to the landfill, could charge the county 109 Board as much as 15 percent more to dump garbage at their landfills in Scott County and Lily, according to 109 Board Chairman Kirby Smith.

Smith said that increase would then be passed onto the garbage collection company, which is currently Mills Garbage, who would then have the right to pass that on to the customer.

The five-year contracts for county waste pickup and transportation are about to expire, and the Bell County 109 Board on Solid Waste is debating on what to do next.

The board spent a good portion of Wednesday’s regular meeting behind closed doors in executive session, debating on whether to sever ties with Waste Connections and put the contract up for bid, or try to extend the contract.

“We have an option to either try to work it out and renew it or put it up for bid and see if someone else will bid on it,” Smith said on Friday. He said it was possible Waste Connections would negotiate the rate increase on using their landfills.

The board didn’t reach a decision and decided to continue deliberation for other landfill services at a committee meeting on Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. in the 109 Solid Waste Office.

The board approved Enforcement Officer Dewey Brock’s monthly report on dump cleanup. According to the report, Brock cleaned a dump at Lower Beans Fork. Eight dumps have been identified in the Solid Waste Plan and four are remaining.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.