Agenda - 03-17-2009-13-3 Information Item 3

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Memorandum To: Laura Blackmon, County Manager From: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Director Subject: STATUS REPORT -Transfer Station Siting Process and Parallel Investigations Date: March 6, 2009 At the January 22, 2009 Board of County Commissioners meeting staff was directed to investigate possible alternative approaches, partnerships, and methodologies for solid waste disposal in consultation with the Solid Waste Advisory Board and other interested citizens, and to continue the investigation and evaluation of the two proposed West 54 transfer station sites. The following update of activities is provided: Use of Existing Transfer Stations One proposed alternative to construction of a new MSW transfer station in Orange County is to have waste collection vehicles haul their loads to existing private sector transfer stations in neighboring counties for an interim period or on a long term basis. Activities completed to date: • Gathered cost and operations data from each municipality and the County regarding their current collection operations and any planned changes. • Determined "off route" times and cost estimates for each jurisdiction. • Estimated cost of transporting each jurisdiction's waste from the end of routes to the current landfill, proposed West 54 transfer station site and to each of the three existing private sector transfer stations in Durham County. Included cost of additional vehicles and crew to meet collection service levels and proposed requirements. • Reviewed NC DENR files to determine permitted disposal and transfer facilities in the surrounding counties that may reasonably be used for disposal of County MSW. • Reviewed NC DENR permits and inspection records of each of the possible facilities. • Interviewed owner/operators of each of three potential alternative transfer stations regarding their operations, capabilities and interest in Orange County waste. • Traveled to each of three potential facilities along the anticipated route of collection vehicles and toured each facility to assess site issues, access and facility operations. • Developed Transfer, Haul and Disposal cost model to evaluate the proposed West 54 transfer station sites and private sector options. Activities to be completed: • Meet with each municipal jurisdiction to review cost assumptions, data and results of analysis. • Finalize analyses as needed and develop draft report for presentation of findings and conclusions. • Meet with SWAB to review hauling analysis and develop final report for the BOCC. Develop alternatives to landfilling. As an alternative to landfilling consider the possibility of developing awaste-to-energy facility or other technology, including partnering with UNC or other interested parties. Activities completed to date: • Reviewed previous work by SWAB regarding waste-to-energy technical and economic feasibility.