A permanent, fixed, supplemental collection and transportation facility, used by persons and route collection vehicles to deposit collected solid waste from off-site into larger transfer vehicles for transport to a solid waste handling facility. Transfer stations do not include recycling facilities that are defined as materials recovery facilities.
10.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter of the Douglas County Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (DCCSWMP) outlines the regulatory framework overseeing solid waste transfer stations, discusses the existing conditions and programs within the Regional Planning Area (RPA), establishes objectives to meet the existing and projected needs, identifies alternatives, and recommends actions for achieving the established objectives.
10.2 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
10.2.1 State Requirements
Solid waste transfer stations are regulated under Chapter 173.304 WAC, Minimum Functional Standards (MFS) for Solid Waste Handling. The regulations specify standards for design, construction, operations and records. Permitting and oversight of solid waste transfer stations rests with the local jurisdictional health authority. Solid waste transfer stations, whether privately owned and operated or owned and operated by cities and towns, can be sited, established, permitted and operated if they are found to conform to federal, state and local regulations, the DCCSWMP, and are in compliance with all local zoning requirements.
10.2.2 Local Requirements
Counties have the authority to site, own and operate solid waste transfer facilities, or to contract for such facilities and services. Waste hauling from county solid waste transfer facilities is not regulated under the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) solid waste hauler regulations if it meets the definition of a solid waste transfer station (fenced, staffed during open hours and fees charged to cover the cost of service) and is part of the county solid waste system. Counties may specify within their solid waste hauling contracts where the collected materials are to be disposed of.
Currently there is no participating jurisdictional solid waste transfer facility within the RPA.
Solid waste collected in the Greater East Wenatchee Area is transported to the South Wenatchee Transfer Station where it is compacted and transported to the Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill and Recycling Facility (GWRLF). The facility was reopened in mid-1992 and is owned and operated by Waste Management of Greater Wenatchee (WMGW), and permitted by the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD). The facility is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. An average of five waste transfer trailers leave the facility each day, five days per week, destined for the GWRLF. The facility also has a recycling drop-off area where aluminum cans and newspapers are collected. Purged whitegoods, appliances and scrap metal are also accepted for a fee.
The Bridgeport Bar Transfer Station services the towns of Brewster, Pateros, (located in Okanogan County), as well as self-haulers from the Greater Bridgeport Bar Area. The facility is owned and operated by Okanogan County, and permitted by the CDHD. The facility is open to the public Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 4:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. An average of two waste transfer trailers leave the facility each day, four days per week, destined for the Okanogan County Landfill in Okanogan County. The facility has no recycling bins, though it accepts appliances for recycling.
10.4 OBJECTIVES
As a result of the potentially decreasing GWRLF capacity, caused by the importation of out-of-RPA solid waste, the participating jurisdictions will have to consider other long-term disposal options. These options include siting a new municipal landfill within the RPA, exporting waste out of the RPA or constructing a solid waste transfer facility within the RPA. The siting of a municipal landfill within the RPA will be discussed in Chapter 12. Out-of-RPA export alternatives, including landfills located in Okanogan, Grant and Klickitat Counties, within the state of Washington, and Gilliam and Morrow Counties in Oregon, will be discussed in Chapter 11.
10.4.2 Ensure that Solid Waste Transfer Stations Meet all Federal, State and Local Regulations.
The incorporation of direct haul, transfer, and export out of the RPA must provide residents with a method for disposing of their solid waste which meets all applicable federal, state and local laws. Solid waste transfer facilities must meet the design, construction and operation requirements of Chapter 173.304.410 WAC. These regulations outline requirements for solid waste transfer facilities, including requirements for access control, vector control, odor control, prevention of blowing litter, surface and groundwater control, wastewater handling and the provision of an onsite attendant during operating hours.
10.5.1 Direct Haul All Municipal Solid Waste Out of the RPA
When considering a one-way haul distance of between 15 and 30 miles, direct haul should be evaluated. However, it is unlikely that direct haul will be cost-effective in this range, except in areas with large volume waste streams. Typically, it is less expensive (per ton) to haul waste in large increments over a distance than it is to haul waste in small increments over the same distance. In most rural counties of the state, waste stream volumes cannot support cost-effective direct haul rates to its residents. Even in rural counties that have larger volumes of waste, if the haul distance exceeds 30 miles the cost per ton becomes prohibitive. Direct haul of RPA waste to an out-of-county landfill would require a one-way hauling distance greater than 30 miles.
Direct haul to an out-of-county landfill also would not eliminate the need for, or the advantage of, some local disposal capacity. Some wastes, such as asbestos, petroleum contaminated soils, inert waste, construction and demolition waste, etc. may not be accepted by out-of-county landfills, or the transfer and disposal costs may be prohibitive. It may be more cost-effective to dispose of these wastes at permitted and approved facilities within the RPA.
10.5.2 Conduct a Regional Transfer Station Feasibility Study
A regional transfer station feasibility study should be conducted to judge the economic and technical feasibility of siting such a facility. A reputable consultant should be contracted to perform this study to give a professional opinion about the overall costs, expectations, and other vital information dealing with considering siting a regional transfer station.
10.5.3 Site a Joint Chelan-Douglas Transfer Station Within Chelan County
A joint Chelan-Douglas Transfer Station may reduce costs to residents and commercial haulers because of the waste volume available, one-way haul distance and the shared maintenance and operational costs. A joint facility would be convenient for residents and commercial haulers, but the ultimate acceptability of the facility would largely be based upon economics and control.
Under this alternative, Douglas County would join with Chelan County to jointly construct and operate a regional transfer station at the Dryden Landfill. By jointly owning and operating a regional transfer station, the operations and maintenance costs could be shared by the two counties. Additionally, a larger volume of solid waste would be collected at the facility, thereby reducing the per ton cost per participating jurisdiction. This alternative would require intergovernmental agreements between the participating jurisdictions of Douglas and Chelan counties.
10.5.4 Site a Regional Multi-Functional Transfer Station Within the Greater East Wenatchee Area
A multi-functional transfer station is not only a facility that collects and processes municipal solid waste, but also separates and processes recyclables and other designated materials. Collection vehicles would unload their designated materials in specific areas of the facility before making their way to their final destination for municipal solid waste collection and processing. The multi-functional transfer station would thus divert a portion of the municipal waste stream prior to it being processed for transportation to an out-of-RPA landfill.
In 1994, the Business and Industry Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Douglas County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) investigated the alternatives for solid waste collection, handling and disposal when the current Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill (GWRLF) reaches capacity. Among the numerous TAC findings, was the recommendation that developing a multi-functional regional transfer station was the best option for handling RPA waste when the GWRLF no longer accepts material for disposal. Additionally, the TAC determined that in order to have the regional multi-functional transfer station in place and operating when the GWRLF was not available, once the GWRLF reached five years of remaining capacity the siting of the facility should begin. The multi-functional facility would be designed to serve as a transfer, processing and/or recycling facility for the following materials:
- designated recyclables;
- scrap metal;
- whitegoods;
- waste tires;
- used batteries;
- used oil;
- used anti-freeze;
- household hazardous wastes;
- small quantity generator wastes;
- universal wastes;
- plastic pesticide containers;
- waste pesticide;
- municipal solid waste.
The TAC also recommended that the multi-functional regional transfer station be sited on public land and operated under contract with the private sector. Long-term contracts would have to be obtained from the participating jurisdictions to assure the solid waste volume necessary to support the annual operation and maintenance costs associated with the facility. Additionally, the TAC recommended that the multi-functional transfer station be: sited within 30 miles of the central core of East Wenatchee; located on or near an interstate highway; and have immediate rail access. Finally, the TAC recommended that additional outside resources, including consultants, engineers, transfer station operators and other governmental agencies, be consulted before a regional multi-functional transfer, be proposed to the public.
10.6 RECOMMENDATIONS
10.6.1 Conduct a Regional Transfer Station Feasibility Study
10.6.2 Site a Regional Multi-Functional Transfer Station Within the Greater East Wenatchee Area