Orange County NC Website
Subject: MSW Landfill Expansion Capacity Options <br /> Date: March 2, 2011 <br /> I have been evaluating the HDR Engineering memorandum of February 3, 2011 (attached) that <br /> presents three options for obtaining additional capacity for the county landfill. This <br /> memorandum has previously been shared with you and indicates that the county may want to <br /> extend final capacity using one of these options. All three options will considerably extend <br /> current capacity estimates of March-June 2013. <br /> None of the options would result in a lateral expansion of the facility and the existing landfill <br /> footprint would remain the same. Options 2 and 3 would require a public process led by the <br /> State and assisted by the Solid Waste Department because the current permitted capacity <br /> would be increased by more than 10%. <br /> I have attached a table summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of each option and I <br /> am recommending option #2. Option #2 would extend capacity until about January 2017. <br /> The basis for my recommendation is as follows: <br /> • Option 3 would provide the greatest capacity, but would be extremely difficult to <br /> construct. <br /> • While I don't relish the required brief public process due to the strong feelings of a <br /> small number of residents in a nearby neighborhood, I believe extending capacity <br /> would be in the best interest of the residents of the county as a whole, be a <br /> considerable benefit for users who depend on landfill, would delay expenditures for <br /> closure and post-closure, would delay the more expensive delivery of waste to the City <br /> of Durham Transfer Station, would allow for the continued reserving of funds for <br /> closure and post-closure, and provide additional time for local elected officials to <br /> explore other longer-term waste management alternatives. <br /> • It would appear that we have an obligation to reasonably optimize the use of the public <br /> infrastructure. <br /> If you concur I will direct HDR Engineering to develop the permit modification accordingly. In <br /> the event you do not concur, we will proceed with Option #1. <br /> Mayor Kleinschmidt said that he does not like the fact of extending the life of the <br /> landfill. He said that it is hard to swallow for six more years. He asked if there was an <br /> extension of the landfill and another option became available, then could the landfill be closed <br /> earlier. Frank Clifton said that it all depends on the capacity. The landfill could be closed at <br /> any time if there were another alternative. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs pointed out that item c addresses using the landfill for six more <br /> years and the discussion of the transfer station was to discuss multi-jurisdictional alternative <br /> solutions to burial or shipment of solid waste. He said that Commissioner McKee has talked to <br /> him about the possibility of the methane gas recovery revenues from UNC coming from the <br /> landfill and whether that could go toward community improvements. <br /> Jim Ward said that he is in favor of finding an additional revenue stream that will help <br /> the surrounding neighborhoods. <br />