Public works looking into waste disposal issues

The solid waste management plan needs revamping due to an impending increase in waste-dumping costs, fuel prices, and the possible need for transfer-station improvements, said Mark Storey, director of Whitman County public works, in a Pullman City Council meeting Tuesday evening at City Hall.

Storey briefed the council on the current waste management situation and listed options under consideration for working to lower the estimated future tipping costs, or the cost per ton of waste that is disposed of.

In 1993, the initial tipping fee was $69 per ton, which remained unchanged until 2007 when the cost increased to $95 per ton, according to Storey’s presentation. The current price of waste-dumping is $99 per ton.

The needs for improvements or alterations in the solid waste disposal operation also pertain to the need for transfer-station improvements and transportation costs, Storey said. “Future increase in fuel prices are a concern,” he said.

Storey noted that much of Pullman’s waste is driven directly to Arlington or Portland, Oregon.

“Are we paying the right price?” Storey answered his own question: “Yes.”

Though driving containers to river ports for barge transportation would replace the long-haul, eight hour drive to Arlington, Storey said the fuel costs of truck transportation of waste would still remain cheaper than those alternatives.

In a list of items prioritized by importance, Storey presented options for meeting this issue head-on.

Public works is also considering the option of constructing two new cells at an existing landfill for dumping as the best alternative. Storey said further consideration of location is a must.

Storey said public works projects filling in these prospective cells would begin in 2013, after a period in 2012 when the county can back out of the current waste disposal contract that otherwise expires in 2017. The opening of new cells would remain open until 2046.

The location in consideration would conflict with the existing police firing range, Storey said.

Mayor Glenn Johnson commented on the importance of the range to police officers and sought clarification of the location issue.

Storey said the issue was one requiring a “separate discussion,” among the other options that are being considered.

The transfer station operations will continue to be feasible, Storey said, but will need major improvements by 2013 – improvements costing anywhere from $1 million to $2 million. Storey said this would need to be considered if other alternatives are not utilized.

To give a measure of how much waste Pullman produces, Storey gave a break-down of the situation. According to Storey’s presentation, approximately 25,000 to 27,000 tons are disposed of each year. He noted that around 2,700 tons of lumber mill and wood waste, or “hog fuel,” as it is called, was delivered to Potlatch last year.

In addition to using local landfills, Storey said Pullman also utilizes a limited purpose landfill which is filled with wastes like asbestos. Moderate-risk waste collection goes to Spokane, including paint and various chemicals.

Councilmember Francis Benjamin asked Storey about long-term liability with solid waste disposal.

Storey said whoever generates the waste maintains liability for it indefinitely. In the case of dumping at Arlington, Storey assured the council that Pullman’s waste is minimal compared to larger cities like Seattle and Portland.

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Outline

1. Solid waste management the issue in lede

2. What happened in the meeting: presentation by dir. of Whitman co. public works

3. Presentation: What is the problem? Future increases in tipping rates

4. What are the options?

5. Questions/comment from Mayor Johnson

6. Presentation: What the city is doing right now:

7. Questions from Councilmember Benjamin

8. Answer by Storey

Mayor Glenn Johnson

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Mark Storey

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Councilmember Francis Benjamin

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