The Wells County Chamber of Commerce, joined by its staff and ambassadors, gathered on Oct. 9, 2023, for the groundbreaking of the Tonner Transfer Station. Situated at 3626 East 550 South in Bluffton, this groundbreaking event marked a significant milestone for the community and the owners, Brandon Gerber, Todd Gerber, and Damon Gerber.
The Gerber family expressed their excitement about introducing the county’s first-ever facility of its kind. The Tonner Transfer Station will be constructed by Meyer Building, a reputable construction company based in Craigville.
A transfer station is a facility that temporarily holds and sorts trash. The Tonner Transfer Station will serve multiple purposes, enhancing the efficiency of Tonner Dumpsters when bringing dumpsters back to the new facility and streamlining the landfill’s holding process. Additionally, it will serve to the local businesses and community members as a location to dispose of items such as mattresses, couches, and chairs.
The new 80 by 64 ft. building will feature two large overhead doors to accommodate dump trucks. A large pusher wall will compact and offload trash into semi dump trailers in a lowered bay. A front scale will weigh vehicles as they enter and exit, with charges based on the weight of the contents. Residential rates will be available for smaller loads, and detailed information will be accessible on the company’s website once operations commence.
The journey toward this achievement began in July 2020 when the Gerber family acquired Tonner Trucking from Bill and Susan Tonner, which had served the community for over a decade. Following the acquisition, the business was renamed to Tonner Dumpster Services and was relocated to Wells County, where their daughter, Tonia Price, has continued to work with the company.
Brandon Gerber reflected on the Tonner Dumpster Services’ legacy, saying, “Bill and Susan did a great job building the company. After purchasing the company, our goal was to continue to grow and become more efficient as a company. It was during this process that the concept of a transfer station emerged.”
The Gerber family is dedicated to providing excellent service and has assembled an exceptional team to ensure a smooth and positive experience for all users of the Tonner Transfer Station. They emphasized their commitment to the community, noting that they are not a landfill but a temporary holding station until waste is transported to the landfill.
“We are excited to be the first to offer this service in Wells County,” added Brandon Gerber. “We have carefully thought through every aspect of this project with our team to benefit the entire community. This family-owned and locally operated company is here to serve and truly cares about our customers.”
Tonner Transfer Station aims to be operational after the first of the year.
