Five percent surcharge on gross receipts has generated more than $20 million since 2009
By SAM KAUFMAN
news@andrewscountynews
April 28, 2026 – Andrews County News
Waste Control Specialists has provided millions of dollars to the county over the years through a surcharge on its gross receipts that comes in quarterly payments.
The funds have enabled numerous projects and purchases that have assisted the community.
Waste Control Specialists’ most recent quarterly check was a good one, according to authorities.
The county received a payment of $583,782 for the quarter that ended in March, WCS officials recently revealed.
That payment more than doubled the first quarter check this year and puts the county on pace to receive more than $1.6 million for the year from WCS, the numbers reveal.
The county had one of its best years with WCS funds last year, receiving approximately $2.1 million through the surcharge.
A first-quarter payment exceeding $1 million led the way, according to authorities.
But the county’s pace with WCS funds is also picking up pace this year after the most recent payment. The $583,782 check provided a solid boost.
Even so, it would take a lot over the final two quarters to match the $2.1 million from last year.
That was the second highest year for the county.
The best year of WCS revenue was $2.7 million in 2015, followed by $2 million in 2013. The $1.95 million for the 2022 fiscal year was a close third but included approximately $500,000 in overpayments.
As the host county where WCS is located, Andrews County receives a five percent surcharge on gross receipts from Waste Control Specialists’ low-level nuclear disposal operation.
Since the surcharge came into play more than 12 years ago, WCS has paid around $21.5 million to the county through the surcharge, according to WCS officials.
The county also received a one-time payment from Vermont for inclusion in the Texas-Vermont Compact, of which Andrews County is the host site.
In total, the low-level disposal facility has contributed nearly $22.5 million to the county coffers.
Additionally, the state receives a much larger percentage of gross receipts from the low-level disposal operation.
WCS’ low-level disposal facility consists of the Texas-Vermont Compact Landfill and the larger federal landfill that takes mostly waste from U.S. Department of Energy projects.
The compact landfill can accept waste from Texas and Vermont, along with 33 other states outside the compact. But non-compact customers must go through the Texas Low-Level Compact Commission for approval.
WCS representatives have said the compact landfill generates more business than the federal landfill. It was initially expected to be the other way around – with the larger federal landfill anticipated to be busier.
But since the facility was constructed, more federally owned disposal options have become available and other private competition exists for the DOE waste.
The funding generated from the surcharge on the low-level facility has been a tremendous asset to Andrews County.
Numerous community projects relating to “public good” have been made possible through WCS money, according to county officials.
The majority of the WCS funds received by the county – 90 percent – go into the Legacy Fund – otherwise known as Fund 47 – for projects related to “public good,” while the other 10 percent is dedicated to the county’s Fund 39, according to county officials.
The Community Legacy Committee, which began functioning in 2017, accepts project applications for possible WCS funding, before vetting the requests and potentially recommending them for commissioners court approval.
Projects involving local governing entities and non-profit organizations can be accepted for WCS money, according to county officials.
The numerous projects funded through the WCS payments have played a pivotal role in the community and have been a benefit to all the taxing entities here.