Agenda - 11-09-2005-2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 benefits. Staff strongly recommends further explm•ing this concept, including working with the County Attorney to identify equity options beneficial to both parties. General Transportation Issues The actual waste tr°ansfer process has tlu•ee components -transfer station operation, hauling, and disposal. The transfer station operation costs are virtually the same regardless of where the waste is going. The costs of the other two components are variable depending on hauling distance and tipping fees at the distant disposal facility. The cost of transporting waste from an Orange County transfer station to an out-of-county landfill will be incurred whether the distant landfill is in Alamance County or a more distant disposal facility, While the cost per mile will be similar for hauling regardless of the destination, obviously total transportation costs will be greater relative to the distance traveled. The disposal cost will also vary depending on the tipping fee rate at the distant landfill. Of course there are other transportation-related issues. One is the wear and tear of roads whereby flee assumption is that the longer the haul, the more impact on roads, Additionally, there is the vehicle emissions issue.. The longer the haul, the more emissions will be discharged. While these are also real costs, these costs do not directly impact the Solid Waste budget unless a preference is made to deliver to a closer disposal facility that may have a higher tipping fee, resulting in a greater overall budgetary cost. Conclusions From our examination of'the issues surrounding Alamance County's inquiry regarding whether Orange County would be interested in transfering waste to the Alamance County landfill, I have made the following observations: • Significant additional costs will be incurred whenever Orange County begins to transfer waste. This fact was identified in the department's 10-year Financial Plan. • hr order to transfer waste to any out-oF-county disposal facility, development of a transfer station in Orange County will be required. • A combination ofhauling azid disposal costs will likelybe utilized to determine the overall financial impact of waste transfer options, given that decisions of this nature are typically based on lowest cost. • Development of a Temporary transfer station would add substantial additional costs to any decision to begin transferring waste at the earliest opportunity. • Development of a transfer station in Chapel Hill's planning jurisdiction would offer limited opporttmity to "fast track" permitting and construction of such a facility. • It is unlikely that an out-of county disposal facility closer than the Alamance Cotmty Landfill will be identified. • It is likely that mm~erous out-of=county waste disposal options are available that offer lower disposal tipping fees than Alamance County's $.36/ton fee.