PARIS — Waste Management is reporting that business at Pheasant Run Landfill in Paris fell by nearly 17 percent since state tipping fees increased in July.

In the most recent state budget, Wisconsin approved an increase in taxes on garbage disposal at landfills, increasing the tax from $5.90 a ton to just under $13 a ton. The increase is coming in two phases, with a $4.10 increase going into effect on July 1. A second $3 hike will come in October.

At a recent Paris Town Board meeting, supervisors discussing a possible impact on the town budget said they had been told Pheasant Run had lost major contracts due to the increase. Supervisor Ron Kammerzelt said “there is some talk the landfill may close.”

Waste Management spokesman Lynn Morgan said business has declined at Pheasant Run. She said garbage drop-off at the site has fallen from 3,000 tons a day before July 1 to about 2,500 a day.

But she said the company will not know the long-term impact of the cost increase for several months.

“Right now our hope is that we will be able to keep Pheasant Run going,” Morgan said. “By year end we should know more.”

Historically about 75 to 80 percent of the garbage dumped at Pheasant Run has come from Illinois. With the tax increase, Waste Management, which lobbied against the tax, predicted the landfill business would fall by two-thirds.

Through a contract negotiated with the corporation, Paris and Kenosha County both receive payments from Waste Management based on tons of garbage dumped at the landfill. According to the company, Paris received $2.8 million in 2008, the county about $490,000.