FARGO (AP) - North Dakota officials have not met their goal of reducing municipal solid waste in the state's landfills by 40 percent by the year 2000.

"At best, it's in the 30- to 35-percent range," said Steve Tillotson, the state's solid waste program manager.

Fargo's solid-waste manager, Terry Ludlum, estimates city residents recycle about 20 percent of their trash. An increase in that rate could extend the life of the landfill, which will be full in about 17 years, he said.

Four North Dakota cities - Devils Lake, Drayton, Pembina and Wahpeton - have volume-based garbage fees. Fargo is preparing to switch to a volume-based fee system, also known as pay-as-you-throw.

Grand Forks also is considering switching to a volume-based fee system after its new landfill opens, Public Works Director Todd Feland said. Residents would pay based on the size of the city-issued trash bin they use, similar to how they pay for how many gallons of water they use, he said.

Ardis Olson, mayor of Drayton and an employee of the Valley Landfill Association, which serves Drayton and Pembina, said some residents scoffed at the volume-based fees at first, but most have come to accept it as a fair system. Officials in surrounding towns do not agree, she said.

"I go to these conferences and get on the bandwagon, and everyone just rolls their eyes and says, 'We're not going to go there,'" she said.

"Things seem to have to make economic sense, and of course people don't like to be told what to do, and they don't like to waste money," Tillotson said.