Agenda - 03-29-2012 - Abstract of Items

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153 M Comprehensive Review of Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Options Consultant Project The Public Works Department put out a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to provide the Town with a Comprehensive Review of Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Options on November 16, 2011. The primary goals of this project are to: 1. Conduct a complete review of the Town of Chapel Hill's current solid waste collection and disposal practices, including residential waste, commercial waste, white goods, yard waste, and brush. 2. Present a comprehensive set of options for the Town's future management of solid waste collection and disposal. These options should include opportunities for enhancing and/or streamlining the Town's current solid waste disposal and collection activities, as well as those the Town does not currently manage, such as recycling and energy conversion (including waste -to- energy). 3. Identify opportunities for public - private partnership (i.e. waste to energy), including specific partners, for the implementation of an enhanced solid waste management system. The Town received proposals from seven firms by the December 5t' deadline, and will interview in late January two consulting firms who meet the criteria established in the RFQ and have the required diversity of experience and expertise in solid waste management. The staff anticipates making a selection of the firm by mid - February and receiving sufficient information that will allow for decisions as it relates to the impact on the budget for FY 2013. Solid Waste Pilot Program to Durham In an effort to begin actively exploring alternatives for solid waste disposal options, the Town conducted a two -week pilot program transporting residential and commercial solid waste to the Durham Transfer Station. The Town staff is in the process of evaluating the results of the pilot program. Our preliminary review of the results are consistent with our earlier fiscal impact estimates, based on the current method of providing the in -house services. Key findings of the pilot program are as follows: The average travel distance to and from the transfer station is approximately 18 miles one -way, adding about an hour of off -route travel time per trip. During peak hours the wait time at the transfer station may be slightly greater than those experienced during the pilot. The vehicles participating in the pilot program experienced no maintenance issues on the way to or from the Durham Transfer Station. We believe that the programmed allowance for additional maintenance associated with the mileage is still reasonable at this time.