Orange County NC Website
Attachment C was technological alternatives to land filling. The SWAB conducted three <br /> public forums regarding alternative technology and Olver, Inc. performed additional research. <br /> The conclusion is that only mass burn waste to energy technology is the proven technology. <br /> There would have to be some partnering or regionalization. A waste to energy site would be at <br /> least as difficult to site as a transfer station. If it is in Orange County, waste would likely have to <br /> be shipped in from the outside to meet the quantities necessary. He said that most <br /> environmental groups are opposed to waste to energy incineration and there are no known <br /> partners of interest in such an endeavor. <br /> Another parallel track issue was the engagement of surrounding potential jurisdictional <br /> partners. He has contacted his counterparts in Wake, Lee, Chatham, Alamance, and Johnston <br /> Counties, and the City of Durham. None of the partners are in need or are interested in the <br /> alternate technologies. <br /> Also requested at the January 22nd meeting was a report on contingency transfer <br /> alternatives (Attachment E). It appears that Orange County has a year more of additional <br /> capacity than previously thought. Staff is going to resurvey to verify these results. <br /> Contingency Planning: <br /> There are three approaches to how Orange County will handle the locally collected waste <br /> should the landfill reach capacity prior to the availability of a new transfer station: <br /> - Reduce the quantity of incoming waste to the landfill by eliminating non-Interlocal <br /> government partner customers <br /> - Once capacity is reached, divert all government and private customer waste to out-of- <br /> county regional transfer stations <br /> - Develop a temporary waste transfer/diversion operation at the landfill (non-landfill <br /> temporary waste transfer/diversion locations would be much more difficult, costly and <br /> time-consuming to permit) <br /> Gayle Wilson said that staff would like direction from the Board on the transfer station site <br /> process, parallel track issues, or contingency plan issues. The Board is being asked to consider <br /> awaiting receipt of the final information from the State Clearinghouse regarding the <br /> environmental assessment; consider authorizing the County Attorney to execute a letter of <br /> agreement with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice to assist in litigation of this process; and to <br /> direct County Management to bring back to the BOCC the ruling from the Planning Department <br /> pending receipt and review of the State Clearinghouse Report on the Environmental Assessment <br /> of candidate site 056. <br /> Gayle Wilson introduced members of the Solid Waste Advisory Board to make some <br /> comments. <br /> SWAB Comments: <br /> Chair of the SWAB, Jan Sassaman, said that the SWAB has looked at these issues for <br /> 2-3 years and he would like to bring to the Board some of the issues the SWAB has discussed: <br /> • There is an avoidable predicament looming and time is of the essence, but the landfill has <br /> a finite lifespan. Though the County may have contingency plans, it needs a long-term <br /> solution for handling the solid waste. Planning, permitting, and construction all take time <br /> and there must be a well-planned and well-executed public transfer station for Orange <br /> County. <br /> • Waste to Energy and other disposal options are not suitable for Orange County as short <br />