Cabarrus County is again considering a public-private partnership to keep the Construction and Demolition Landfill on Irish Potato Road open.
Without the partnership, the landfill will close in 2013 at a cost of about $760,000 to the county, according to county officials.
Issues regarding how to handle the landfill have been ongoing for more than a year as it nears capacity.
“It was recommended that we look at closing in June of 2013,” County Manager Mike Downs said. “It may be feasible for us to continue to operate it and expand and extend the life of the facility.”
Last spring, commissioners discussed partnering with Greenway Waste Systems, a Griffin Brothers company, to expand the landfill to a property just south of the existing landfill. The proposal also included constructing a state-of-the-art composting facility on the site to recycle food waste and yard debris.
Plans to work with Greenway Waste Systems were approved, but later fell through because of differences over the proposed contract. Now that company has returned with a new proposal.
The publicly operated landfill was self-sustaining in the past, but has experienced a decrease in revenue with the recession and also is dealing with increased regulations, officials said. In January, commissioners said they would consider raising the tipping fees. That was before the potential for a public-private partnership was revived.
Cabarrus County Sustainability Manager Kevin Grant said the proposed partnership was revived because of reports the county was considering closing the landfill in 2013.
“You really don’t want to leave any potential Construction and Demolition Landfill land out there,” he said. “You will not be able to get any virgin land.”
Downs said the county officials will receive the proposal from Greenway and come back to commissioners for a decision if all the numbers work. He said he plans to revisit the issue at a commissioner meeting in March.
The landfill, which is located at 4441 Irish Potato Road, accepts construction and demolition debris and yard waste from commercial businesses and homeowners. The county charges $31 per ton for construction and demolition waste and $30 per ton for uncontaminated yard waste.
Contact reporter Karen Cimino Wilson: 704-789-9141.
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