Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
-- ...J_.._. _. ~ ~.__ _. _.. ~_ _ ~_ _ _, <br />^ Public participation is critical to the success of these projects. Public opposition to the \ <br />siting and permitting of a WTE facility is highly likely. Therefore, the process of public <br />involvement should be considered when estimating the time it may take to implement a <br />regional WTE facility in the County. <br />^ In fulfillment of its pledge to the American College and University Presidents Climate <br />Commitment, the University has been progressively identifying and evaluating alternative <br />technologies that will result in a more energy efficient and "greener" University. <br />^ UNC is more interested in emerging technologies that appear to have potential for <br />improved emission performance over the mass-burn technology. <br />^ A partnership with UNC in a new facility will require more years of technology testing <br />and demonstration of performance than if the County were to implement amass-burn <br />facility on its own. <br />^ Current interests from surrounding jurisdictions regarding regional waste management <br />opportunities have targeted long-term landfill projects and not the development of a WTE <br />facility. <br />^ Developing a feasible long-term disposal solution that is an alternative to landfilling will <br />likely take 15 to 20 years or more to become operational. <br /> LONG-TERIIB DISPOSAL ALTERNATIVES <br /> Summary of Decisions <br />kF ~ L ~ ~ ~ { F ~ ;.i,. ~ ~ <br />Proven Ready to Implement Yes .Requires time to mature Yes <br />Requires Regional Development Yes Yes Completed <br />Requires County Site Yes or a Transfer Station Yes or a Transfer Station Transfer Station <br />Interested Parties County to Develop Potential for UNC & County NIA <br />Schedule for Implementation 10-15 Years 15-20 Years 1-2 Years <br />Cost per Ton $100 + TBD Approx. $60 <br />The result of this review is that processing of waste rather than landfilling has considerable <br />advantages, which are likely to grow as fuel costs rise, landfills fill up, and the release of <br />greenhouse gases becomes increasingly critical. However, this alternative of waste processing is, <br />of necessity, along-term management option that will take years to develop and implement. <br />Using the currently favorable technology (mass-burn), additional MSW waste streams will have to <br />be identified, and partnering agreements reached with other jurisdictions, to make this method <br />economically viable. Alternatively, some of the other less proven methods may have promise for <br />8 Apri[ 16, 2009 <br />