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<br /> Comprehensive Review of <br /> S olid W aste Collection and Disposal Options <br /> <br />v2.1 136 10/22/12 <br />9.2 CONCLUSION AND RECOM MENDATIONS <br />As noted above, siting and developing a new stand-alone MRF is not considered to be a <br />productive or economically viable endeavor due to prohibitive costs arising from insufficient <br />material quantities (yielding infeasible economies of scale). Competition from ongoing <br />successful regional recycling operations (i.e., Orange County), and the policy challenges that <br />would arise from the need to divert the materials currently collected by Orange County under the <br />County’s existing recycling programs to such a facility serve as further disincentives. <br />Developing a new transfer station which is designed and constructed to include capabilities for <br />sorting incoming wastes and handling recyclable materials or vegetative and organic wastes for <br />composting or emerging waste conversion technologies (e.g., anaerobic digestion) is suggested <br />as the preferred approach. <br />Consistent with Town values and ongoing sustainability efforts, should the Town decide to <br />pursue a new Town transfer station as a long-term waste management option, the incremental <br />cost to expand this design and develop a co-located MRF or co-located composting facility <br />would provide several tangible and intangible benefits. These include: <br /> An ability to capture and divert additional recoverable materials from the waste <br />stream, before its ultimate bulk transfer for landfill disposal, thus promoting <br />continued improvement towards the region’s 61% waste diversion goal. <br /> Accordingly, such additional diversion reduces waste disposal costs (i.e., tip fees) and <br />improves the efficiency of a Town transfer station option. <br /> Designing MRF capability into a transfer station preserves ability for the Town to <br />capitalize on one or more emerging waste conversion technologies as they develop in <br />the future. <br /> Developing potential new waste processing capabilities within the Town presents <br />possible new opportunities for regional collaboration and additional program revenue. <br /> Furthermore, developing a transfer station with MRF and other material processing <br />capabilities promotes the Town’s values of environmental stewardship/sustainability, <br />and responsibility. <br />SCS recommends that the Town not engage in development of a stand-alone MRF at this time <br />for the following reasons: 1) Siting and developing a new stand-alone MRF is not considered to <br />be a productive or an economically viable operation due to prohibitive costs arising from <br />insufficient material quantities (yielding infeasible economies of scale); and, 2) it would have a <br />negative impact on the current regional cooperative recycling strategy with Orange County. <br />However, in the event the Town pursues development of its own transfer station, SCS <br />recommends the Town consider potential adaptation of the facility to include additional <br />equipment and capabilities to enable recovery and processing of yard waste, recyclables and <br />possibly organic wastes. The concept of a co-located MRF and/or vegetative waste composting <br />facility in conjunction with a transfer station could be further refined in conjunction with future <br />siting and design efforts, as appropriate.