Southwest Environmental Services Inc., operators of the Pahrump and Tonopah landfills, received an 8.6 percent increase in their contract with Nye County at the Dec. 18 county commission meeting.

The increase in the service contract, which will amount to $71,235, is to compensate for inflationary costs as determined by the consumer price index since 2004.

The contract price will go up from $828,320 to $899,555.

The county negotiated a contract with Southwest Environmental in November 2004 for $633,320 to operate the Pahrump landfill and transfer bins in Beatty and Amargosa Valley. The contract was amended in July 2005 to include operation of the Tonopah landfill, at which time the contract amount was increased to $767,806.

Public Works Director Samson Yao said the company hasn't had a price increase since 2004. The company has also increased its costs with the recycling program, he said.

Nye County is in the process of obtaining land from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for a new landfill in the Last Chance Basin once the existing landfill on Mesquite Avenue is full. The county intends to keep the existing landfill open as long as possible until the new regional landfill is ready, a mutual goal to which both parties to the agreement are committed.

The agreements have stated the county's intent to displace competition in the operation of landfills and collection of garbage by negotiating an exclusive contract.

John Shea, representing Southwest Environmental Services Inc., which also is a part owner of Pahrump Valley Disposal which collects trash in Pahrump, said his company made some improvements at the Pahrump landfill that will extend the life of the dump several years.

They include an aggressive diversion program and excavation of additional trenches, Shea said. He said the company also implemented a new scale system.