Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
While WTE as a means of dealing with Orange County's waste is very appealing and can <br />provide a means whereby Orange County maintains responsibility for its own waste <br />stream, there is no viable WTE technology that can solve our immediate or our medium- <br />term needs to dispose of solid waste. Technologies are either not proven at the <br />operational scale needed, or require significantly more feedstock than we have available <br />for cost effective operation. <br />® As a practical matter, it would be virtually impossible to successfully site a WTE or <br />similar facility in Orange County within a time frame that would make alternatives to the <br />transfer station possible. <br />® If a WTE facility were ultimately developed for Orange County's solid waste, it would in <br />all likelihood need to be located too far away for direct haul of waste, and even more <br />likely out of county as a regional facility, and thus require a WTS. <br />® The conclusions of the SWAB's memorandum to the BOCC dated September 24, 2008 <br />(attached) are even more germane now. <br />Conclusions <br />With respect to a WTS, despite the difficultyrn comparing the two methodologies for calculating <br />potential incremental costs involved in WTS versus out-of-county direct haul, it is the SWAB's <br />opinion that it is in the best interest of the citizens of Orange County to proceed forthwith with <br />procuring a site and developing a county owned and operated WTS that is not only operationally <br />sound and cost effective, but also environmentally and socially responsible. i <br />~. <br />With respect to WTE options, it is the SWAB's opinion that these may very well be viable long- <br />term options for disposal of Orange County's solid waste, likely as part of a regional agreement. <br />For the near and medium term, however, the primary focus of the SWAB's activities should <br />include: <br />• completion of the county-wide solid waste management plan, <br />• advising the Solid Waste Department on WTS development, <br />• continued development of our exemplary recycling operations, <br />• activities associated with landfill closure, and <br />• future continued discussions of WTE options, <br />in that order. <br />The Solid Waste Advisory Board hopes that this review is useful to you in your deliberations. <br />We look forward to hearing your response and are ready to continue to assist the BOCC and <br />Solid Waste staff. <br />2 <br />