More thought required when disposing of trash

May 18, 2023

What happens to the surrounding environment when Transylvanians bury their trash and what happens to that land after a landfill reaches the end of its life cycle? These questions were discussed at the recent Transylvania Natural Resource Council (TNRC) meeting, which was a field trip to the very top of the county's landfill.

"Seeing that a big part of our charge at the TNRC is to promote education and understanding of the county's natural resources and related issues — hence our robust and diverse programming schedule— I thought it would be a great experience for the council and the interested public to see how our waste is managed and by whom," said TNRC Chair Owen Carson.

"I was inspired by my wife, Sarah, who leads the occupational course of study at Rosman High School," Carson said. "She had taken her class on a landfill tour several months ago and came back full of interesting facts about the facility and its operation."

The Woodruff Landfill, located outside of Rosman, spans more than 750 acres with its footprint occupying about 30 of those acres.

"Because the landfill is situated on a large, wooded tract in the headwaters of tributaries to the French Broad and conducts primarily land disturbing activities, I saw this trip as an opportunity to evaluate the measures that are in place to protect natural resources while providing a vital service to county citizens," Carson said. "The landfill is currently in the midst of obtaining permits for a proposed expansion, so it also seemed like a good time to explore the expansion process, visualize its geographic footprint and understand its effect on the lifespan of the landfill."

For a couple of hours Kenn Webb, Transylvania County Solid Waste director, led the group through the many areas of the property, from watching trucks full of household garbage being dumped on top of a large mound, to observing pipes which release gas from underground, to sedimentation ponds.

"Based on the last annual life span survey, also called a capacity survey, completed in June 2022, the currently permitted landfill would be filled in October of 2025," Webb said. "We anticipate the expansion section —Phase 7 — to be completed by August 2025," said Webb. "While these dates do not provide a large buffer of time, there are other options if ‘life span’ is exceeded prior to permitting of new expansion area."

The expansion would extend the landfill's life for about five to six more years until around 2031.

Webb discussed the various systems in place to prevent Transylvanians’ garbage from leaking into or contaminating the surrounding natural environment.

Workers monitor groundwater and landfill gas, take samples and monitor stormwater and surface water, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) performs routine site inspections. Liner systems beneath the landfill were constructed to prevent contamination and leachate (the liquid which drains, or leaches, from a landfill) lines have been constructed in a network beneath all trash but above the liners to transfer those liquids offsite for proper disposal.

"The processes involved in the safe and proper development and infill of the site are quite complicated – it's not just dumping trash and covering it," said Carson, following the tour.

"A key point that Kenn made is that the landfill relies upon the public to properly sort their waste to avoid trashing items that could be dangerous to the operators, the public or to the natural environment," he said. "They cannot and do not go through or sort waste once it is dumped, so in a way it is incumbent upon the public to understand what they’re throwing away."

Webb told the group of a dangerous incident that occurred recently. A small electronic device was discarded as trash and was punctured while in the open face of the landfill. A lithium battery within the device then caught on fire. Prompt response by equipment operators extinguished the flame.

"The solid waste team at the landfill does observe what is deposited at the open face of the landfill but cannot see everything," said Webb. "It is the responsibility of the public to deposit only those items permitted."

Landfills reach a certain point when trash can no longer continue to be piled on top of ever growing mounds. The council discussed case studies of other closed landfills in and out of the state.

Virginia Beach converted its landfill into Mount Trashmore Park, a 165-acre public park which has two man-made mountains, two lakes, two playgrounds and a skate park. Building solar panels above the ground to produce energy, repurposing the land into wildlife habitats and mining the land for plastic or other valuable goods in the future, were also discussed.

"There are a lot of factors that go into what happens at closure of a landfill and potential new uses will be driven by everything from regulations at that time to feasibility of design without impacting the stability of the waste that must stay contained," said Webb. "Engineers with experience in construction of landfills are involved in the closure design with stormwater transport models determining the necessary stormwater design features on the exterior of the landfill. These features are designed to make the least impact on the surrounding environment."

After the tour Brevard College's Dr. Jennifer Kafsky said she would like to schedule a trip for her students.

"Being informed of what happens beyond the curb," said Kafsky, "will help provide (students) with the big picture, and they will have information and understand the process as we all work together to solve the problems associated with waste management."

"I was so excited about Kenn's work with the Fungi Project," added Kafsky. "I loved how Kenn was investigating the different plots of mulch and observing the plots where the fungi were healthier and more populated with plant life, which would be especially helpful in the soil and water conservation, and in erosion control. This is an issue that we all need to be informed about and responsible to as citizens of our communities."

The Transylvania County Solid Waste department welcomes individual's questions and provides tours with advanced notice. Webb will be giving a free public talk about recycling at the library on June 6 at 6 p.m.

Materials prohibited from being disposed of into the landfill:

•Tires must be brought to Woodruff Landfill and stacked in the tire trailer.

•Automotive batteries can be taken to Pisgah Forest, Calvert or Woodruff locations and placed in storage containers.

•Liquid paint must be dried and disposed of in household garbage.

•Aluminum cans should be recycled.

•Plastic beverage containers should be recycled.

•Used motor oil can be placed in collection drums at Calvert and Woodruff locations.

•Leaves and yard waste should be composted. The landfill accepts limbs and untreated wood debris.

Household Hazardous Waste

Materials accepted at Woodruff Landfill: pesticides, weed killers, bug sprays, used motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, kerosene, motor and recyclable batteries. Materials not accepted: liquid paint, regulated-medical wastes, industrial or business waste, explosives or unknowns. All containers must be labeled.

Electronics

Televisions should be taken to the Woodruff Landfill, the charge for disposal is $15 each. Computers, printers and monitors are accepted at no charge.

Recyclable materials

Items must be clean, free of contaminants and sorted properly at centers.

•Newspapers and inserts

•Mixed paper: magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes (remove plastic liner), paperback books, phone books, office paper. No paper towels, napkins or coated paper.

•Glass bottles that are green, brown and clear. No pane glass, plates, drinking glasses or light bulbs.

•Mixed plastics: bottles, tubs, jugs and jars only. Lids on bottles are okay.

•Steel food cans: labels can be left on.

•Aluminum beverage cans. No foil or pie pans.

•Cardboard: dry, corrugated, flattened cardboard boxes. No pizza or wax coated food boxes because of contamination. No commercial cardboard collections at See Off.

•Tires: up to five car tires without rims can be deposited for free at Woodruff Landfill.

•Appliances: refrigerators, stoves, hot water heaters, washers, dryers, dishwashers, freezers, air conditioners, microwaves, toaster ovens, dehumidifiers and other small kitchen appliances are accepted for free at Woodruff Landfill.

•Batteries: automotive batteries are accepted at no charge at Woodruff, Calvert and Pisgah Forest. Small rechargeable batteries (NiCd, NiMH and lithium) are also accepted at all locations at no charge. Alkaline batteries should be discarded in the trash.

•Used auto oil filters and antifreeze: accepted at Woodruff, Calvert and Pisgah Forest

•Used motor oil: accepted at Woodruff and Calvert only. The public is encouraged to drop their oil off at the several local businesses that change oil and service automobiles.

•Used cooking oil is accepted at the Pisgah Forest location.

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