Yuma County Plans South County Transfer Station, Opening July 2026 Expected

Yuma County moved a step closer to a new South County solid waste transfer station after Public Works Director Kelly Fricki presented project details to county officials on November 19. The proposed facility would sit on a 10 acre parcel on County 19th Street between Avenues D and E. According to the briefing, the county has completed final design and environmental assessment work and finalized a land use license with the Bureau of Reclamation.

Officials issued a request for proposals and opened construction bids in October. Staff reported an expectation to recommend a construction contract for Board approval in December, and to open the facility in July 2026, with those dates dependent on direction from the Board of Supervisors. No formal contract award was made at the meeting, and staff will return with a recommendation for Board action.

County materials and policy plans summarized in public comments indicate the transfer station will accept household waste, green waste, electronics, and white goods for recycling, while commercial waste will be prohibited at the site. Tire policy provisions were outlined for residents, with up to five tires accepted per household per year at no charge and a small fee reported at five dollars for each additional tire. Initial hours are planned at three days per week, with the possibility of expanding service days in the future. Outreach and marketing for the new facility will be supported in part by an eighty thousand dollar recycling grant from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

County staff framed the project as primarily intended to give South County residents a free and convenient disposal option, and to reduce illegal dumping that has affected canals and agricultural fields in the area. For local residents and agricultural operators the transfer station promises a nearby legal option for disposing common household items and bulky waste, potentially reducing travel time and the environmental and safety hazards posed by unauthorized dumping on public lands and irrigation channels.

As the project moves toward a December contract recommendation and a mid 2026 opening, residents can expect additional public information from county staff about exact hours, accepted materials, and any site rules. The final schedule and operations will depend on Board action, and the county plans further outreach funded in part by the ADEQ grant to ensure residents know how to use the new facility when it opens.