Orange County NC Website
of overall solid waste management responsibility and asked that the County Commissioners discuss and <br />provide comments on these principles. He noted that the Mayor of Chapel Hill has suggested that a work <br />group made up of the Mayors and Managers meet to discuss the remaining solid waste issues in mid January. <br />Gayle Wilson presented a map of the Orange Regional Landfill showing the current and <br />potential solid waste facilities. He described these facilities and said that they have found an area that is <br />partially used as a yard waste area and partially unused because of a ravine. They think that if they fill in this <br />ravine and bring it up to grade that they could create an additional three acres. This, along with relocating <br />their mulching area will provide enough space for a MRF. If they relocate the convenience center to the <br />south side and relocate the equipment site, they will create enough acreage for a transfer station. We are <br />taking existing land and providing a site for a transfer station and a MRF. <br />Commissioner Carey asked if this would provide for sufficient buffers on the road and Gayle <br />Wilson said that they will maintain the existing buffer. <br />Chair Gordon asked about how many acres they would need for a transfer station. Gayle <br />Wilson said that this area would be 11 acres including the buffer area and that six acres is sufficient for a <br />transfer station. <br />Gayle Wilson showed on a map three disposal site options for construction and demolition <br />materials. One of these options would utilize the western portion of the LOG owned Johnson property, the <br />three properties directly adjacent to the Johnson property owned or optioned by Ms. Deng and a 200 foot <br />easement for a required buffer located on property owned by Duke University. This site would have an <br />estimated life of about 12-13 years. <br />Commissioner Jacobs noted that he talked with Duke University who indicated they might be <br />willing to sell this property to the County. <br />Gayle Wilson said that a decision needs to be made soon on the location of the MRF. The <br />transfer station will not be needed for six years. The siting of a C&D location needs to be done immediately <br />John Link said that even if these sites do not turn out to be the final sites , the County <br />Commissioners can say we have a site and move on to address the other solid waste issues. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the size of a MRF building and Gayle Wilson said that the <br />building we would need would be similar in size to what they have seen in Athens, Georgia. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he feels that if we are going to put three waste facilities on a <br />compact site that we need to look at addressing the County's need - not regional. <br />Gayle Wilson said that a MRF would not need to be much larger to accept solid waste material <br />from Chatham County. However, the transfer station would need to be larger to accommodate a regional <br />facility. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to a newspaper article which talked about C&D <br />diversions and said that he feels that there are people who would welcome an opportunity to help in this effort. <br />Gayle Wilson said they have been contacted by firms but the problem is that we don't have the volume that <br />would make it profitable for them. <br />The Board discussed the direction they want to pursue and decided that they need a master plan