The Haywood County Commissioners are considering options for privatizing or partially privatizing their landfill. Refreshing for political speech is a quote from Commissioner Bill Upton:

I worry about what I don’t know might bite me.

Siting a landfill is always traumatic for NIMBY’s. One thing the commissioners are considering is selling off parts of the landfill. Before government became synonymous with abracadabra, the obvious solution would be to do just that, and introduce competition. A probable outcome would be that the specialists who have to turn a profit to stay in business would realize greater efficiencies for satisfying customers. Government, on the other hand, might see it is losing money in the venture. Haywood County saved $145,000 when it turned its garbage collecting convenience centers over to private operators. If government, relying only on user fees and not general taxation, outperforms the private sector, then the public should be expected to enjoy its low rates and quality service.

Other considerations include the fact that costs will go down if people send more stuff to the landfill, a practice about as un-PC a “Bush 2012” bumper sticker. Also, North Carolina waste sites are so regulated, it is almost cheaper to carbon footprint the trash to Georgia.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: To those who are familiar with modern connotations only, I use the word “free market” to refer to markets where it is against the rules to buy government (e.g., campaign contributions cannot buy legislation to lessen special interests’ tax burdens or undercut the competition). Traditional capitalists want government entirely divorced from economics.]