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Solid Waste Management Plan Update Gordon County and Cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Resaca, Plainville and Ranger Prepared For: GORDON COUNTY January 2007 (Revised September 2007) (Revised February 2008) Prepared by: 630 Colonial Park Drive Suite 110 Roswell, GA 30075 o [PHONE REDACTED] f [PHONE REDACTED] www.atlcc.net ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc i Table of Contents Section 1 - Introduction 1.1 - Background 1 1.2 - Responsibility for the Plan 1 1.3 – Planning Area Defined 2 1.3.1 – Topography/Unique Natural Features 2 1.3.2 – Population 3 1.3.2.1– Seasonal Population Variation 4 1.3.3 – Economic Activity 4 1.3.4 – Transportation Networks 6 1.3.4.1 – Road Network 7 1.3.4.2 – Railroads 7 1.3.4.3 - Trucking 7 1.3.4.4 - Airports 7 Section 2 - Waste Disposal Stream Analysis 2.1 - Amount of Waste Generated 8 2.2 - Unique Conditions and/or Seasonal Variations 9 2.3 - Waste-Generating Disasters 9 2.4 - Disposal Rate 10 2.5 - Reduction in Disposal Rate 10 2.6 - Waste Characterization 10 2.7 - Projection of Waste to Be Disposed 12 Section 3 - Waste Reduction 14 3.1 - Source Reduction and Reuse 14 3.2 - Recycling 14 3.3 - Yard Trimmings Collection and Mulch Production 16 3.3.1 - Gordon County and Cities of Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca 16 3.3.2 - The City of Calhoun 16 3.4 - Special Management Items 16 3.5 - Land Application of Wastewater Treatment Sludge 16 3.6 – Summary of Waste Reduction Programs 17 3.7 – Contingency Strategy 18 3.8 – Assessment 18 3.9 – Needs and Goals 18 Section 4 - Collection 19 4.1 - Collection of Waste 19 4.1.1 - Gordon County 19 ---PAGE BREAK--- Table of Contents P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc ii 4.1.2 - City of Calhoun 20 4.1.3 – City of Fairmount 20 4.1.4 – City of Plainville 20 4.1.5 – City of Ranger 20 4.1.6 – City of Resaca 20 4.2 – Yard Trimmings 22 4.2.1 – Gordon County and Cities of Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca 22 4.2.2 – City of Calhoun 22 4.3 – Illegal Dumping 22 4.5 – Contingency Strategy 22 4.6 – Assessment 22 4.7 – Needs and Goals 23 Section 5 - Disposal 24 5.1 - Disposal 24 5.2 - Assurance of 10-Year Capacity 25 5.3 – Contingency Strategy 25 5.4 – Assessment 26 5.5 - Needs and Goals 26 Section 6 - Land Limitation 29 6.1 - Purpose and Background 29 6.2 – Natural Environmental Limitations 29 6.3 – Other Land Use Restrictions 30 6.4 – Local Procedures for Siting Solid Waste Facilities 33 6.5 – Assessment 34 6.6 – Needs and Goals 34 Section 7 - Education and Public Involvement 35 7.1 - Education 35 7.1.1 - School System Programs 35 7.1.2 - Local Government Programs 35 7.2 - Public Involvement 36 7.3 – Assessment 36 7.4 – Needs and Goals 36 Section 8 - Implementation Strategy 37 8.1 - Implementation 37 Appendix – Gordon County Resolutions 44 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 1 Section 1 - Introduction 1.1 - Background This document is the Solid Waste Management Plan Update for Gordon County and the Cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Resaca, Plainville, and Ranger. This Plan Update was written to comply with Chapter 110-4-3 of the Rules of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Minimum Planning Standards and Procedures for Solid Waste Management, as revised in 2004. It addresses the five core planning elements specified by the Minimum Planning Standards and Procedures, including: • Waste Reduction • Collection • Disposal • Land Limitations • Education and Public Involvement In addition, the Plan includes a waste disposal stream analysis and an implementation strategy. This Solid Waste Management Plan updates the original Gordon County Solid Waste Management Plan, adopted in 1992, and the Five-Year Short-Term Work Program Update, adopted in 2002. The planning period, therefore, is from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2017. Because of an extension in the deadline for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (now due June 30, 2009) and DCA’s desire that the planning periods for both Plans are the same, this Plan will need to be amended and readopted by June 30, 2009 for another 10 year period (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2019) to coincide with the Comprehensive Plan’s planning period. Gordon County held two public hearings while preparing this Solid Waste Management Plan. The County held the initial public hearing on March 6, 2007 to obtain public input prior to the planning process. The County then held the final public hearing on April 17, 2007 to obtain public comment on the draft plan. To encourage public review of the Plan, the draft document was posted on the County’s website prior to the second public hearing. 1.2 - Responsibility for the Plan The person responsible for this update to the Solid Waste Plan is: Mr. Randy Dowling County Administrator Gordon County Administration Building 201 North Wall Street Calhoun, GA 30701 (706) 629-3795 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 2 1.3 – Planning Area Defined Gordon County has a land area of 355 square miles and is located in the northwest section of Georgia. The County is directly north of Bartow County, south of Murray and Whitfield Counties, east of Floyd and Walker Counties, and west of Pickens and Gilmer Counties. The location of Gordon County in the State of Georgia is shown in Figure 1-1. There are five incorporated areas in the County: Calhoun, Fairmount, Resaca, Plainville, and Ranger. Calhoun, the county seat and primary market center, is located in the western part of the county and is the largest municipality at 12 square miles. Calhoun’s economy consists of a large industrial base, which includes several Fortune 500 companies. Calhoun is the second largest center for carpet production (after Dalton, to the north) with manufacturing facilities for several major companies, including Mohawk Carpets, Dixie Yarns, Shaw Industries, Mannington Floor Covering, and Springs Industries. Other industries, such as Carraro, Gold Kist Mills and Kobelco, which represent large machine producers and grain operations, provide a diverse base. Calhoun also has a large supporting commercial base. The Cities of Fairmount, Ranger, Plainville and Resaca are rural in nature, with a few industries also located in these areas. Ranger, with the smallest population of the incorporated areas within Gordon County, is located in the eastern part of the County. Plainville is situated in the southwest section of the County, while Fairmount is located in the southeast corner. Resaca, with the largest population of the small cities, is located in the northwestern section of the County, directly north of Calhoun. The unincorporated areas of the County include forest land, agricultural applications, and industries. Sixty-nine percent of the residents of the County live in the unincorporated areas of the County. 1.3.1 – Topography/Unique Natural Features Gordon County lies within the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region that consists of a series of broad, fertile valleys separated by parallel ridges of sandstone. Together these features are the result of the several great continental collisions that formed the Appalachian chain and the Pangaea supercontinent during the Paleozoic era. The soils in the County are generally red in color and, with the exception of those found in floodplain areas, are well drained. There are three protected rivers in the County; the Conasauga, the Coosawattee and the Oostanaula. These are part of the larger Coosa River Watershed Area that lies in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. The County contains part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, and one half of it is designated as the John’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The Talking Rock Wildlife Management Area is located along the eastern border of the County and consists of approximately 12 square miles. Figure 1-1 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 3 1.3.2 – Population In Gordon County, the population in 2005 was 50,279 according to the U.S. census data with a 2006 projection of 51,514. The County population has increased steadily since 1950 and with increasing growth a likely trend along the I-75 corridor. Gordon County’s population is expected to continue to grow at a growth rate of 4.7% annually. This growth rate is based on data from the Gordon County Comprehensive Plan 2007 - 2027 by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting. The County's total population is projected to reach 71,669 by the year 2017. Table 1.1 shows recent population and growth trends for Gordon County and its municipalities. In 2005, an estimated 50,279 people lived in Gordon County, 69% of them in the unincorporated County and another 27% of them in the City of Calhoun. The population increased 67.2% over the previous 25 years with the growth rates in the Cities of Calhoun and Resaca outpacing the rate in the rest of the County. The number of housing units in Gordon County in 2000, the most recent year for which data were presented in the Comprehensive Plan, was 16,173, a 57.3% increase over the prior 20 years. Table 1.1 Historic Population of Gordon County and its Municipalities, 1980-2005 Category 1980 1990 2000 2005 Growth Rate 1980- 1990 Growth Rate 1990- 2000 Growth Rate 2000- 2005 Growth Rate 1980- 2005 Gordon County 30,070 35,072 44,104 50,279 16.6% 25.8% 14.0% 67.2% Unincorporated Gordon County 22,865 26,495 31,614 34,699 15.9% 19.3% 9.8% 51.8% City of Calhoun 5,563 7,135 10,667 13,570 28.3% 49.5% 27.2% 143.9% City of Fairmount 842 657 745 785 -22.0% 13.4% 5.4% -6.8% City of Resaca* 348 401 821 864 15.2% 104.7% 5.2% 148.3% City of Plainville 281 231 257 270 -17.8% 11.3% 5.1% -3.95 City of Ranger 171 153 85 91 -10.5% -44.4% 7.0% -46.8% Source: Gordon County Comprehensive Plan 2007-2027, Draft Report. *Resaca was incorporated in 1981. The population figure of 348 was the population at the time of incorporation. Gordon County is expected to continue to grow at a steady rate over the next two decades due to its strategic location between Chattanooga and Atlanta, the regional population growth trending northward from Atlanta, expansion of the local and regional economy, and the large amount of undeveloped land. The exact growth rate is difficult to determine as many factors will affect the rate. Projections provided by the DCA (1.76 multiplier) are used in the Comprehensive Plan and show the County growing by 47,038 persons between 2005 and 2025. This reflects a 20-year growth rate of 94% or roughly 4.7% annually. Projections for each year of the planning period are shown in Table 1.2. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 4 Table 1.2 Projected Population for Gordon County 2007-2017 Year Population 2007 52,749 2008 53,984 2009 55,219 2010 56,454 2011 58,628 2012 60,801 2013 62,975 2014 65,148 2015 67,322 2016 69,496 2017 71,699 Extrapolated from the Gordon County Comprehensive Plan 2007-2027, Draft Report. 1.3.2.1– Seasonal Population Variation Gordon County does not report dramatic changes in population over the course of a year. Although the tourist population has an impact on the County, visitors come throughout the year. 1.3.3 – Economic Activity The major employers in the County are shown in Table 1.3. Collectively, the textile manufacturing companies provide the majority of the jobs in Gordon County. County and City School Systems, Gordon Hospital, and City and County governments are also large employers. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 5 Table 1.3 Major Employers in Gordon County, 2006 Employer Number of Employees Private Employers Mohawk Industries 3000 Shaw Industries 1750 Gordon Hospital 600 Mannington 592 Beaulieu 386 Kobelco Construction Machinery American, LLC 350 Springs Global US Inc. 360 Apache Mills 320 North American Container Group 200 Royal Floor Mats 150 Public Employers County Schools 985 City Schools 450 County Government 341 Calhoun City Government 325 Georgia Department of Human Resources 85 United States Postal Service 50 Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 49 Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) 43 Georgia State Patrol 10 Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) 12 Source: Gordon County Comprehensive Plan 2007-2027 Table 1.4 shows the shift in employment by industry between 1980 and 2000. All categories except Agriculture and Forestry experienced growth rates over the twenty year period with the categories within the service sector showing the largest gains. Although the number of employees in manufacturing increased between 1980 and 2000 by 34.5%, a smaller proportion of total employees were in manufacturing in 2000 than in 1980. In 1980, nearly half of those employed in Gordon County were employed by the manufacturing category. By 2000, that percentage had declined to 39 percent. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 6 Table 1.4 Historical Employment and Comparison by Industry Category Gordon County 1980 1990 2000 % Change from 1980 - 2000 Total Employed Civilian Population 13,232 17,439 22,451 69.7% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting & Mining 474 569 438 -7.6% Construction 625 1,102 1,721 175.4% Manufacturing 6,576 8,078 8,847 34.5% Wholesale Trade 336 439 674 100.6% Retail Trade 1,797 2,378 2,829 57.4% Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities 673 1,009 1,065 58.2% Information NA NA 369 100.0% Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 371 389 613 65.2% Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, and Waste Management Services 263 358 890 238.4% Educational, Health and Social Services 1,074 1,724 2,575 139.8% Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation and Food Services 325 109 1,066 228.0% Other Services 270 865 786 191.1% Public Administration 448 419 578 29.0% Source: Extracted from the Gordon County Comprehensive Plan 2007-2027 1.3.4 – Transportation Networks Residential growth in Gordon County will continue primarily eastward away from Calhoun. Some residential growth will occur on the south side of the county along the Bartow County line. Industry will continue to expand southward from Calhoun toward Bartow County with some growth toward Whitfield County on the north. The primary traffic patterns will continue to flow toward Calhoun and toward 1-75. With this flow toward 1-75, the east west surface streets will continue to add vehicles. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 7 1.3.4.1 – Road Network There are a total of approximately 806 centerline miles of streets and roads in Gordon County. The breakdown of mileage by jurisdiction is • Interstate Highway 15.7 miles (2 percent) • State or US Routes 128.4 miles (16 percent) • Local (city and county) 661.5 miles (82 percent) • Total centerline mileage 805.6 miles Interstate 75 is the only interstate highway in the County. It runs from the Bartow County line at the south end of the County to the Whitfield County line on the north end of the County. It is the primary traffic corridor through the county and is six lanes wide. 1.3.4.2 – Railroads There are currently three rail lines running through Gordon County. Two are operated by CSX and one by Norfolk Southern. All three of these are freight lines and run north south across the County with the Norfolk Southern line running across the west side of the county and the CSX lines running through Calhoun and roughly parallel to US 411 on the east side of the County. 1.3.4.3 - Trucking In addition to the movement of freight by rail, trucking also facilitates the movement of cargo within Gordon County. The major truck routes generally follow the location of industry within the County. 1.3.4.4 - Airports There is one general aviation airport within the county and several small private landing areas in Gordon County. Tom B. David Field is operated by the Calhoun-Gordon County Airport Authority. It has a single runway that was extended to a total of 6000’ and is 75’ wide. A parallel taxiway runs along a portion of the length of the runway. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 8 Section 2 - Waste Disposal Stream Analysis Inventory and assessment of the existing solid waste stream is the first step in developing a plan for the local governments in Gordon County. This involves determining the current quantities of solid waste generated and disposed, as well as characterizing the waste stream. The main sources of solid waste in Gordon County are residential, commercial/institutional, industrial, and out of county, with a small amount of agricultural waste. 2.1 - Amount of Waste Generated According to reports from Georgia landfills to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (EPD), a total of 68,502 tons of waste from Gordon County was disposed in MSW landfills in Georgia over the 12-month period starting July 1, 2006. Table 2.1 estimates the amount of this waste disposed by sector, based on a telephone survey of landfills in the state of Georgia conducted by R. W. Beck, Inc.i This telephone survey indicated that, of the waste delivered to MSW landfills, 66.6% is reported as MSW (generated by the commercial or residential sector), 14.0% is industrial, 12.3% is C&D debris, and 7.1% is sludge or biosolids. However, because all sludge from Gordon County is beneficially reused, it is probable that no sludge from Gordon County is disposed in landfills. Thus, the following percentages, by source were assumed for Gordon County: According to Gordon County staff, MSW can further be broken down to a 75/25 split, commercial-to-residential sectors. This breakdown was applied to the two-thirds of the waste entering MSW landfills that is considered to be MSW, in the Table below. Table 2.1 Reported Waste Disposed by Sector (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007) Gordon County Sector Tons To MSW Landfills Tons To Other Types of Landfills Total Tons Residential 12,622 0 12,622 Commercial 37,864 0 37,864 Industrial 9,590 2,286 11,876 C&D 8,426 65 8,491 TOTAL 68,502 2,351 70,853 2005 EPD Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Reported Tonnage Data for Gordon County Georgia Waste Characterization Study, conducted for the DCA by R. W. Beck, Inc, 2005 Of the 68,502 tons disposed as MSW from Gordon County, 9,970 tons, or 14.6 percent, were disposed in other landfills in Georgia. Table 2.2 shows where solid waste generated in Gordon County was reportedly disposed during this period. It is possible that additional solid waste is being sent to other facilities within Georgia that was not reported as originating in Gordon County. It is also i R.W. Beck, Inc., Non-MSW Survey Results, conducted for the DCA, June 2002. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 9 possible that some of Gordon County’s waste was disposed in landfills in other states. However, no data from other states was available for this analysis. Table 2.2 Tons of MSW Reportedly Disposed from Gordon County, July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007 Landfill Location Tons from Gordon Co. Gordon County, GA 58,532 Murray County, GA 749 Whitfield County, GA 8,986 Cherokee County, GA 25 Polk County, GA 210 Total 68,502 In addition to the solid waste shown in Table 2.2, waste carpet from Gordon County goes to the Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority’s industrial balefill located in Whitfield County. EPD records indicate that 2,286 tons of waste were disposed in Industrial Waste Balefill from Gordon County over the 12-month period starting July 1, 2006. Although Gordon County disposes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in their MSW landfill, 65 tons of C&D waste were sent to Cherokee County’s C&D landfill over the 12-month period starting July 1, 2006, according to EPD records. 2.2 - Unique Conditions and/or Seasonal Variations The County does not have any unique conditions that would impact the waste stream. It does not experience any significant seasonal changes in population or waste received. The seasons do bring a variation in yard trimmings, with leaves in October and November and grass clippings and other yard waste in the spring and summer months. Construction and demolition activity varies considerably from year-to-year, depending on factors such as new building projects, interest rates, etc. 2.3 - Waste-Generating Disasters Without knowing the type and degree of the unanticipated disasters, Gordon County can not project the additional amount of waste that would require management for such an incident. However, based on experience elsewhere, it is clear that a major disaster could result in many times more waste to be disposed than in an average year. The sections on collection and disposal outline the approach that the County would take to deal with waste resulting from such disasters. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 10 2.4 - Disposal Rate Table 2.3 shows that based on the reported tonnage of 68,502 tons disposed from Gordon County in MSW landfills and the projected 2006 population of 51,514, the average person in the County disposed of 7.29 pounds per day in MSW landfills in 2006. This is less than the reported state average in FY2004 of 7.52 pounds per person per day disposed in MSW landfills (6.5 pounds per person per day when waste imported from other states is excluded). Table 2.3 Disposal Rates in Gordon County July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007 Area Tons Per Year 2006 Population Pounds Per Person Per Day Gordon County 68,502 51,514 7.29 Source: 2006-2007 EPD Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Reported Tonnage Data for Gordon County 2.5 - Reduction in Disposal Rate The County made significant progress reducing waste by recycling approximately 2,000 tons each year through its recycling facility and by diverting 17,680 tons of sludge each year that previously was disposed in an MSW landfill (see Section For the planning period covered by this Solid Waste Management Plan, the County has established a waste reduction goal of 2 percent. 2.6 - Waste Characterization The 2005 Statewide Waste Characterization Study, conducted by R. W. Beck, Inc. for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, contains a model that calculates the waste composition for a County based on demographics, recycling programs, and other factors specific to the community. Table 2.4 shows the waste composition for Gordon County and tons per year of each material estimated to be disposed resulting from this model. The percentages were applied to the MSW component (residential and commercial waste) entering MSW landfills only. These characterization results suggest that 39 percent of the residential and commercial waste disposed of from Gordon County is recyclable paper, and an additional 28 percent is organic material. Corrugated containers and food waste alone comprise an estimated 26 percent of the MSW disposed from Gordon County. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 11 Table 2.4 Estimated Composition and Tonnage of Waste from Gordon County Material Average Tons per Year Newspaper 4.5% 2,037 Corrugated Cardboard 15.0% 6,821 Office 3.4% 1,561 Magazine/Glossy 2.3% 1,054 Paperboard 3.5% 1,576 Mixed (Other Recyclable) 2.7% 1,249 Other (Non-recyclable) 7.7% 3,503 Total Paper 39.0% 17,800 #1 PET Bottles 1.3% 582 #2 HDPE Bottles 1.0% 464 #3-#7 Bottles 0.2% 97 Expanded 1.4% 632 Film Plastic 7.9% 3,594 Other Rigid Plastic 4.2% 1,900 Total Plastic 15.9% 7,268 Clear 1.6% 715 Green 0.5% 243 Amber 1.3% 603 Other 0.1% 32 Total Glass 3.5% 1,593 Steel Cans 1.0% 440 Aluminum Cans 0.8% 370 Other Ferrous 1.6% 731 Other Non-Ferrous 1.0% 439 Total Metal 4.3% 1,979 Yard Waste 2.8% 1,260 Wood (non-C&D) 2.2% 991 Food Waste 11.1% 5,078 Textiles 4.2% 1,938 Diapers 2.6% 1,190 Fines 2.2% 1,004 Other Organics 3.1% 1,396 Total Organic 28.2% 12,859 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 12 Table 2.4 Estimated Composition and Tonnage of Waste from Gordon County (Continued) Material Average Tons per Year Drywall 0.2% 97 Wood 4.4% 2,004 Inerts 0.2% 112 Carpet 0.7% 313 Other C&D 0.9% 412 Total C&D 6.4% 2,938 Televisions 0.0% 0 Computers 0.8% 375 Other Electronics 1.1% 486 Tires 0.0% 0 HHW 0.2% 113 Other Inorganics 0.5% 210 Total Inorganics 2.6% 1,184 TOTAL 100.0% 45,622 Georgia Waste Characterization Study, conducted for the DCA by R. W. Beck, Inc, 2005 In addition, agricultural waste is another waste stream to be considered in Gordon County. This typically includes chicken waste (manure, feed, etc.). The waste is composted at individual farms for use as fertilizer. According to the local agricultural extension service office, approximately 15 percent of the farmers have composting operations. 2.7 - Projection of Waste to Be Disposed As described above, it is estimated that 7.29 pounds per person per day were disposed in MSW landfills from Gordon County over the 12-month period starting July 1, 2006. For the planning period covered by this Solid Waste Management Plan, the County has a waste reduction goal of 2 percent. If the 2 percent reduction goal is achieved, then a total of 887,488 tons will be disposed over the planning period in MSW landfills. The annual tonnage projected to be disposed in MSW landfills in each year is shown in Table 2.6. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 13 Table 2.6 Disposal Projections in MSW Landfills Gordon County July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2017 Year Pounds Per Person Per Day with 2% Reduction Tons Per Year 2007 7.29 70,179 2008 7.28 71,674 2009 7.26 73,162 2010 7.25 74,644 2011 7.23 77,358 2012 7.22 80,059 2013 7.20 82,749 2014 7.19 85,427 2015 7.17 88,093 2016 7.16 90,746 2017 7.14 93,398 Total 887,488 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 14 Section 3 - Waste Reduction This Section describes the waste reduction programs operating in Gordon County and the Cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca. Waste reduction includes reducing the amount of waste generated (source reduction), reuse, recycling, and composting. 3.1 - Source Reduction and Reuse The purpose of source reduction is to decrease the quantity of waste produced. Commercial and industrial producers, as well as residential customers, will continue to be encouraged to reduce at the source and reuse through public education and information programs as well as volume based disposal rates. The County will work with local industries to identify opportunities to reduce waste at the source. This may include an incentive program such as reduced disposal rates to get industries involved. An industrial solid waste audit program, similar to that offered by utility companies for reducing energy usage, may be a new program offered to local industries to assist them in beginning source reduction and reuse programs. Gordon County was one of the first counties in Georgia to offer the pay-as-you-throw program for residents. Residents using the County’s convenience centers weigh the solid waste that they bring and pay for this waste by the pound. Thus, the more solid waste they dispose of, the more they pay. This approach encourages residents to recycle rather than dispose; recycling is free, whereas disposing has a fee. 3.2 - Recycling Waste reduction and recycling programs in Gordon County divert significant portions of the total waste stream from the landfill. Residents of all the cities and the unincorporated County can bring their recyclables to one of the convenience centers located throughout the County. The locations of these facilities and the materials collected at each are shown in Table 3.1. Recycling center at the landfill where materials are sorted ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 15 Table 3.1 – County Drop-Off Locations for Recyclables Convenience Center Address Days of Operation Materials Accepted Plainville 188 Franklin Rd. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday Aluminum cans, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, plastic, tin cans, Sugar Valley 472 Bough Mt. Rd. Monday, Friday, Saturday Aluminum cans, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, plastic, tin cans Resaca 730 Resaca-Lafayette Rd. Monday through Saturday Aluminum cans, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, plastic, tin cans Ranger 187 Pittman Rd. Monday, Friday, Saturday Aluminum cans, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, plastic, tin cans Dews Pond 1049 Cash Rd. Monday through Saturday Aluminum cans, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, plastic, tin cans Harris-Beamer 790 Harris Beamer Rd. Monday through Saturday Aluminum cans, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, plastic, tin cans Redbone Ridges Landfill 1224 Pleasant Hill Rd. Monday through Saturday Aluminum cans, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, plastic, tin cans, brown, clear and green glass As described above, Gordon County encourages recycling at its convenience centers by charging per pound for waste disposal, depositing recyclables at the convenience centers is free while all other waste costs $0.05 per pound. Gordon County has contracted with Santek Environmental of Georgia, LLC, which in turn, subcontracts with TNT Recycling to operate a recycling facility at the Redbone Ridges Landfill. The recycling facility serves as the central collection point for recycled items. The recycled products are sorted and baled for shipment to processors or end users. Most of the solid waste generated in Gordon County (about 75%) comes from commercial and industrial sources. Thus, encouraging businesses and industry in the County and the cities to recycle is the key to meeting the waste reduction goal. Businesses are increasing their recycling programs both to save money and to meet customer demands. However, the businesses and industries are not required by Gordon County or the State to report tonnages recycled. Thus, it is impossible to quantify the tonnages recycled through these avenues. None of the Cities in Gordon County offer curbside collection of recyclables. Thus, residents and businesses of the cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca participate in the programs described above. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 16 3.3 - Yard Trimmings Collection and Mulch Production Gordon County has an ordinance stating that landfilling of yard trimmings is prohibited. Accordingly, a program was established at Redbone Ridges Landfill to mulch yard waste and grass trimmings. Gordon County has a grinding machine that processes all wood waste and trimmings. Mulch is provided to the public free of charge. Current demand for mulch exceeds the supply of available material. 3.3.1 - Gordon County and Cities of Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca Residents of the County as well as the cities of Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger and Resaca do not have collection of yard trimming curbside unless they contract with a private service provided. They can deliver their yard trimmings to the Redbone Ridges Landfill for mulching and composting. 3.3.2 - The City of Calhoun In the City of Calhoun, brush, limbs and leaves are picked up on a weekly schedule. Leaves are picked up during the fall and winter on an area schedule. Brush and limbs are chipped on- site or taken to a holding area. Calhoun operates an ODB leaf vacuum machine with 10-yard storage bay. Leaves are given to local farmers who compost and mix them with their soils. Yard trimmings compose about 1.5 percent or more of Gordon County's solid waste disposed. Removal of these materials from the disposal stream contributes to the reduction efforts. 3.4 - Special Management Items Solid waste requiring special handling are called 'special management items.' These typically include household hazardous wastes, asbestos, biomedical waste ash, liquid or semisolid wastes, tires, used oil, and agricultural chemical and pesticide containers. Household hazardous wastes and asbestos waste are accepted and disposed at the Redbone Ridges Landfill. Hospital biomedical waste generated in Gordon County is collected by private haulers and incinerated out of Gordon County. Redbone Ridges Landfill has programs to recycle used motor oil, white goods, batteries. Gordon County and Santek hold an annual tire amnesty day at the landfill sponsored by a private sector company. These programs serve all residents of Gordon County and the Cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca. 3.5 - Land Application of Wastewater Treatment Sludge Calhoun’s manufacturing base has historically been high dischargers of wastewater. At the present time (February 2007) Calhoun operates a 16 million gallon per day biological waste treatment plant. One of the by-products of wastewater treatment is biosolids (sludge). Calhoun’s biosolid product is approximately 15% solid and 85% liquid after processing. At the present time Calhoun is producing 65 to 85 tons per day. The Calhoun Waste Water Treatment Plant began operations in the early 1970’s and biosolids were trucked to the local landfill. By 1994 it became apparent that it would not be economically feasible to pay $50.00 per ton landfill tipping charges for sludge. Calhoun then began looking for alternative means to dispose of its sludge product. Land application was the most effective, viable alternative. A permitting process was undertaken in 1995 and today Calhoun has 6,000 acres of farm land permitted through the ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 17 Georgia Department of Natural Resources for land application. 17,680 tons of sludge are diverted annually. The dollar value of anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids has been estimated between $90 and $140 per acre when compared to commercial fertilizers. The organics in biosolids are released slowly through the mineralization process with the gradual release being better utilized by plants than inorganic fertilizers. Calhoun delivers and spreads the biosolids at no charge to the local farmer. Costs incurred are permitting at $20 per acre and application at $7.60 per ton (2007). Calhoun must comply with all use criteria established by the United States Environmental Protection Division for the application of biosolids. 3.6 – Summary of Waste Reduction Programs Table 3.2 summarizes the recycling programs operating in Gordon County and its cities. Table 3.2 – Recycling Programs Serving Gordon County and the Cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca Type of Program Population Served Owned and Operated by: Materials Accepted Convenience Centers 50,206 County Business/Industry Recycling Programs N/A Local business and industry Materials Recovery Facility 50,206 Owned by County; Operated by TNT Mulching/Composting 50,206 County Yard trimmings Mulching/Composting 13,570 City of Calhoun Yard trimmings Tire Recycling 50,206 County Tires White Goods Recycling 50,206 Owned by County; Operated by TNT White Goods Battery and Used Oil Recycling 50,206 County Batteries and Used Oil Land Application of Sludge 19,699 City of Calhoun Biosolids Table 3.3 indicates the tons diverted through the programs. An estimated 27% is diverted by the County recycling program and the City of Calhoun’s land application program. However, it is important to note that much of the recycling activity is conducted by local business and industry independent of the County and the Cities. The tonnage diverted through these programs is impossible to quantify. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 18 Table 3.3- Historic Tons Disposed and Recycled 2001- 2002 2002- 2003 2003- 2004 2004- 2005 2005- 2006 Total Landfilled Waste (tons) 63,048 48,535 40,272 35,749 50,412 Land Applied Sludge (tons) 17,680 17,680 17,680 17,680 17,680 Recycled Commodities (tons) 2,019 1,764 2,711 2,548 1,142 Total Solid Waste (tons) 82,747 67,979 60,663 55,977 69,233 Total Recycled Solid Waste (tons) 19,699 19,444 20,391 20,228 18,822 Total Recycled Solid Waste 23.81 28.60 33.61 36.14 27.19 3.7 – Contingency Strategy If the current Contractor was unable to collect recyclables, the County and the City of Calhoun would hire another Contractor to provide these services. If the current processors and markets for recyclables became unavailable, the Cities and the County would look for new processors and markets to handle these materials. It would take approximately two weeks to procure another contractor to provide these services. In the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation that resulted in recycling programs or facilities becoming unavailable, collection of recyclables would be reduced or halted until the disrupted facilities or programs could come back on line. It is estimated that such an interruption would last no longer than two weeks. 3.8 – Assessment The current waste reduction elements appear to be adequately meeting the needs and the demand of the County and the all municipalities within the County. 3.9 – Needs and Goals Goals: 1. To reduce the amount of waste disposed, on a per capita basis, by an additional 2 percent between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2017. a. Increase participation in the County’s recycling program. b. Meet the demand for recycling from a growing population. 2. Expand the types of materials collected in cases where economically feasible. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 19 Section 4 - Collection This Section describes the collection programs for solid waste, yard trimmings and recyclables operating in Gordon County and the Cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca. 4.1 - Collection of Waste Collection systems for the County and municipalities in Gordon County are discussed individually below. 4.1.1 - Gordon County Gordon County does not collect residential, commercial or industrial waste at the source. Residential, commercial and industrial waste generated in Gordon County is collected individually by various private haulers listed in Table 4.1. Table 4.1 – Private Haulers Operating in Gordon County Collector Name Collector Location Mauldin Waste Fairmount, GA Allied Waste/BFI Rome, GA North Georgia Disposal Dalton, GA AMR Rome, GA Ward Roll-off Calhoun, GA The portion of the county’s citizens who choose not to hire private haulers may deposit their waste at one of the county-owned convenience centers shown on Figure 4.1. In February 2006, Gordon County contracted with Santek to operate and manage the seven convenience centers for a 20-year agreement. Commercial waste is not accepted at any of the convenience centers. All convenience centers are open between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The locations and days of operation are listed in Table 4.2 below. Table 4.2 – Convenience Center Locations and Days of Operation Convenience Center Address Days of Operation Plainville 188 Franklin Rd. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday Sugar Valley 472 Bough Mt. Rd. Monday, Friday, Saturday Resaca 730 Resaca-Lafayette Rd. Monday through Saturday Ranger 187 Pittman Rd. Monday, Friday, Saturday Dews Pond 1049 Cash Rd. Monday through Saturday Harris-Beamer 790 Harris Beamer Rd. Monday through Saturday Redbone Ridges Landfill 1224 Pleasant Hill Rd. Monday through Saturday To provide revenue for the disposal of residential waste and encourage community recycling, electronic scales were installed at all seven convenience centers in January 1997. Gordon County began charging a ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 20 tipping fee for residential waste disposal at Redbone Ridge landfill in January 1997. Depositing recyclable materials at the convenience centers is free, while all other residential waste is $0.05 per pound. The County’s landfill management firm, Santek Environmental of Georgia, LLC (Santek), collects waste from the convenience centers once or twice weekly as necessary and transports/disposes that waste at the Redbone Ridges Landfill. Industrial and commercial waste is transported to Redbone Ridges Landfill by the generator’s own vehicles or private haulers. 4.1.2 - City of Calhoun Residential collection is provided to 3,317 residential customers in Calhoun. The household service was contracted to Mauldin Waste in February 2006 for a five-year period. Customers are billed for the Mauldin service and the City pays the landfill tipping charges from the general fund. Curbside service is provided Monday through Friday each week of the year. At the present time, service is provided with 95- gallon rolling containers. There are 27 smaller containers (68-gallon) for special situations. Calhoun ceased commercial waste collection services on July 1, 2007. Calhoun’s commercial customers are currently handled by private haulers. Equipment inventory includes: Front Loader with 40-yard capacity (good condition), 3 4-yard dumpsters, 7 6-yard dumpsters, 13 8-yard dumpsters. Supervision is provided by the Street Department Superintendent. 4.1.3 – City of Fairmount All collection is through private collection service or residents use the City- operated convenience center. The waste collected at the city-operated convenience center is transported to the Redbone Ridges Landfill by Santek as needed. 4.1.4 – City of Plainville The City of Plainville currently provides curbside collection services to its citizens every Monday. There are approximately 81 canisters, which are hauled by subcontractor Mauldin Waste. Each customer pays the City of Plainville a flat fee of $75/year. The City then directly pays Mauldin out of these collection fees, which are supplemented if necessary from the general fund. 4.1.5 – City of Ranger All collection is through private collection services or residents use the County-owned convenience center. 4.1.6 – City of Resaca The City of Resaca currently provides curbside collection services to its citizens every Friday. There are approximately 232 residential customers, whose waste is hauled by subcontractor Mauldin Waste. Customers do not pay a separate fee for this service. The City of Resaca pays Mauldin Waste a flat fee of $9/month/customer. These City funds are financed from the general fund. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 21 Figure 4.1 Convenience Center Location Map ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 22 4.2 – Yard Trimmings 4.2.1 – Gordon County and Cities of Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger, and Resaca Residents of the County and the cities can deliver yard trimmings to the Redbone Ridges Landfill for mulching and composting as described in Section 3. 4.2.2 – City of Calhoun In the City of Calhoun, brush, limbs and leaves are picked up curbside on a weekly schedule. Leaves are picked up during the fall and winter on an area schedule. Yard trimmings collected by the City are mulched as described in Section 3. 4.3 – Recyclables None of the municipalities in Gordon County offer curbside collection of recyclables. Residents and businesses of the cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger and Resaca can deliver recyclables to the drop-off locations listed in Table 3.1 of the preceding section. 4.4 – Illegal Dumping Illegal dumping and littering is not a significant problem throughout the County. The Gordon County Code of Ordinances, specifically Article III, Section 15-61 through 15-64 state that it is “unlawful for any person to dump, deposit, throw or leave or to cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing, throwing or leaving of litter on any public or private property in this county or any waters in this county” unless the property has been designated by the County for disposal of litter, such litter is placed into receptacle on container on the property, and the person is the owner or has lawful possession of the property. Any violation is deemed a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $1,000 per violation. 4.5 – Contingency Strategy If the current Contractor was unable to collect residential waste, the County and the Cities of Calhoun, Plainville and Resaca would hire another Contractor to provide these services. In this event, the municipalities would temporarily by-pass normal procurement procedures and implement a temporary contract for collection services within 2-weeks to ensure minimal interruption of collection services. The County has entered into agreements with two private haulers (DRC Emergency Services, LLC and Disaster Recovery Management, Inc.) to provide collection, temporary storage and disposal of disaster related debris. The public will be notified through the normal public notice methods; however, based on the severity and extent of the storm event additional methods may be used including newspaper/radio bulletins and additional signs/flyers. It is estimated that it would only take a day or two to implement this strategy since the contracts are already in place. If the amount of storm debris generated were more than could be collected within one week by the stand-by haulers, the County and the Cities would use their existing equipment to collect debris and stage it at County and City locations until there is time to transport it to the landfill. This approach has been used successfully to clean up debris from past storms. 4.6 – Assessment ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 23 The current collection elements appear to be adequately meeting the needs and the demand of the County and the all municipalities within the County. 4.7 – Needs and Goals Goal: To provide consistent and universal access to collection services for waste to all citizens in Gordon County. 1. Maintain and enhance the operation of existing convenience centers. 2. Evaluate the location of the convenience centers located in the County. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 24 Section 5 - Disposal This Section describes the disposal facilities located in the County. This Section also demonstrates assurance of disposal capacity throughout the planning period as required by the Minimum Planning Standards and Procedures. 5.1 - Disposal Solid waste disposal in Gordon County is done entirely at the County-owned Redbone Ridges Landfill. In February 2006, Gordon County contracted with Santek to operate and manage the Redbone Ridges Landfill and the seven convenience centers for a 20-year agreement. Environmental controls at the landfill include: access limitations; waste compaction and cover requirements; grading and drainage requirements; fire control requirements; and prohibition of hazardous or pathological waste disposal. The Redbone Ridges Landfill facility is located about 10 miles east of I-75 off Highway 156 on Pleasant Hill Road Extension. Permitted by the State Environmental Protection Division (EPD) in 1994, the Redbone Ridges Landfill has 613 acres of property with 162 acres permitted for municipal solid waste disposal meeting current Georgia Solid Waste and federal Subtitle regulations and 7 acres permitted for disposal of inert waste. Gordon County has received EPD approval (October 2002) for a vertical expansion of the remainder of the phases for the landfill to maximize the waste disposal capacity within the permitted landfill area. Increasing the permitted height of the remainder of the phases of the landfill will increase the landfill capacity by an additional 1,980,000 cubic yards (742,900 tons). This additional waste volume will further reduce the ultimate disposal costs for solid waste since no additional construction will be required and the closure/post-closure costs are spread over more tons of waste. EPD records show that from July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007, Gordon County’s Redbone Ridges Landfill received a total of 201,462 tons of waste. Table 5.1 shows the amount and origin of waste received at Gordon County’s solid waste disposal facility. The tonnages indicate that almost 71 percent of the waste came from outside of Gordon County over this planning period, mainly from the Georgia counties of Cobb (88,174 tons), Floyd (17,824 tons). Maintenance Facility at the landfill Significant Waste Coming into Gordon County ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 25 Table 5.1 Origin of Waste Received at Gordon County’s Redbone Ridges Landfill July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007 Tons MSW Landfill Gordon County 58,532 Out of County 142,930 Total 201,462 Based on the 2007 Remaining Capacity report, the estimated life of the landfill is approximately 95 years based on historical tonnage of 259 tons per day. This estimated remaining capacity may vary from year to year depending on actual tonnage disposed and the achieved level of compaction. 5.2 - Assurance of 10-Year Capacity Gordon County plans to continue disposal of its waste at the existing Redbone Ridges landfill through the planning period. As described above, the facility has an estimated remaining life of approximately 95 years at current disposal rates. A letter from the landfill indicating its intention to continue to handle all the waste generated in the County is included at the end of this Section. 5.3 – Contingency Strategy Gordon County has entered a 20-year agreement with Santek to operate and manage the landfill and provide disposal capacity. Therefore in the event that the primary disposal at the existing Redbone Ridges Landfill was disrupted, Santek would be required to provide an alternate disposal method. The alternate disposal location would most likely be the Westside Landfill located in adjacent Murray County. This option should only require a couple of days to implement. There are several landfills in Northwest Georgia that are available to accept Gordon County’s waste in the event that the Redbone Ridges Landfill becomes unavailable. If other landfill capacity were needed in the long run to meet the disposal demand in Gordon County, the County would solicit proposals from disposal facilities to accept the waste from the cities and County. It is assumed that the private haulers would determine the most suitable disposal location based on the economic market and there would be no interruption of disposal. Placement/compaction of trash in landfill ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 26 5.4 – Assessment The current collection elements appear to be adequately meeting the needs and the demand of the County and the all municipalities within the County. 5.5 - Needs and Goals Goal: Ensure sufficient disposal capacity to handle the amount of waste projected to be disposed for the next ten years. 1. Operate and monitor the County landfill to ensure sufficient capacity to handle all of the waste generated in the County for the next ten years and beyond. 2. Operate the County landfill in a manner that protects public health and the environment and are consistent with solid waste management plan. Leachate storage tanks at the landfill. Google Earth image of Redbone Landfill ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 27 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 28 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 29 Section 6 - Land Limitation 6.1 - Purpose and Background Siting of municipal solid waste landfills is directly affected by two Georgia laws. The primary law regulating site selection is the Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act (O.C.G.A. § 12-8- 20), which specifies geologic, hydrologic and other criteria that must be satisfied. The Georgia Comprehensive Planning Act (O.C.G.A. § 12-2-8) establishes rules for protection of groundwater recharge areas and watersheds. The Minimum Planning Standards, issued jointly by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), establish additional natural environmental limitations and land use factors. Amplifying regulations have been issued by DNR Environmental Protection Division (EPD). As part of the siting study for the Redbone Ridges Landfill during the mid 1980’s, many areas within the county were considered for siting a landfill. Gordon County selected the area where the Redbone Ridges Landfill is located as the appropriate location for waste disposal and other related activities. The 613 acre area owned by the county has sufficient area to meet the counties waste disposal and waste management needs for the next 95 years based on the current disposal rates. The Redbone Ridges Landfill, which meets current State and Federal regulations, encompasses approximately 162 acres permitted for disposal of municipal solid waste and 7 acres permitted for disposal of inert waste. Gordon County has a Recycling Facility, Maintenance Building, and Administration Building on the property. If future waste disposal options such as a C&D landfill or composting area are required to effectively meet the County’s waste management needs, it is anticipated that the remainder of landfill property would be sufficient for additional future facilities. 6.2 – Natural Environmental Limitations Federal, State, and County policy contain restrictions on where in Gordon County solid waste facilities can be sited and, in some cases, the design required to site facilities in a specific area. Some of these restrictions are based on natural environmental features. • Floodplains – DNR Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(d) stipulates that any solid waste landfill located in the 100-year floodplain shall not restrict the flow of the 100-year flood, reduce the temporary water storage capacity of the flood plain, or result in a washout of solid waste so as to pose a threat to human health of the environment. • Wetlands – DNR Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(e) and .03 prohibits the development of solid waste landfills in wetlands, as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, unless evidence is provided by the applicant that use of the wetland has been permitted or otherwise authorized under all other applicable state and federal laws and rules. • Water Supply Watersheds – DNR Rule 391-3-16-.01(7)c1 requires that at any location within a small water supply watershed, new solid waste landfills must have liners and leachate collection systems. • Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas – The official code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) Section 12- 8-25.2 and DNR Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(j) states that no permit shall be issued for a municipal solid waste landfill if any part of the site is within two miles of an area that has been ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 30 designated by the EPD Director as a significant groundwater recharge area unless such municipal solid waste landfill has a liner and leachate collection system and meets any other requirements as may be established by rules and regulations of the board or pursuant to other geological considerations as may be determined appropriate by the EPD Director. DNR Rule 391-3-16-.02(3)a states that the DNR shall no issue any permits for new sanitary landfills not having liners and leachate collection systems. • River Corridors – DNR Rules prohibit the development of new solid waste landfills within protected river corridors. • Protected Mountains – DNR Rule 391-3-16-.05(4)(1) prohibits the development of new solid waste landfills in areas designated as protected mountains. • Fault Zones, Seismic Impact Zones, and Unstable Areas (Karst Areas) – A hydro-geological assessment must be conducted at the location of any proposed solid waste disposal facility. Such an assessment must be performed under the direction of a registered geologist or professional engineer. Technical issues which involve seismic activity, fault lines, unstable areas, such as karst areas must be evaluated in the preliminary site selection phase. Any condition that would likely result in a release of pollution from a site may not receive EPD approval during the solid waste handling permitting process, unless mitigating or supplemental protection is provided. • DNR Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(f) focuses on fault areas and requires that new landfill units and lateral expansions of existing landfills not be located within 200 feet of a fault that has had a displacement in Holocene time, unless an alternative setback distance of less that 200 feet will prevent damage to the structural integrity of the landfill and will protect human health and the environment. • DNR Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(g) prohibits the development of new landfills and lateral expansions of existing landfills in seismic impact zones, unless all landfill containment structure, including existing landfill liners, leachate collection systems, and surface water control systems, are designed to resist the maximum horizontal acceleration in lithified earth material for the site. • According to DNR Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(h), existing landfills and lateral expansions of existing landfills located in an unstable area must demonstrate that engineering measures have been incorporated into the landfill’s design to ensure that the integrity of the structural components of the landfill will not be compromised. 6.3 – Other Land Use Restrictions State and federal restrictions for siting solid waste facilities based on land uses include: • National Historic Sites – MSW landfills are not permitted within 5,708 yards of a National Historic Site (O.C.G.A. Section 12-8-25-1). There are only three designated National Historic Sites in the State that are included in this restriction and none are in Gordon County. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 31 • Archaeological Sites – The Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 requires federal agencies or local governments utilizing federal funds to conduct archaeological investigations on lands under their jurisdiction to determine the nature and extent of the protected cultural resources present. Therefore, no solid waste handling facility should be located so as to negatively impact an area of concentration or known archaeological sites on file with the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF). Located at the University of Georgia, the GASF is the official repository for information about known archaeological sites in the state of Georgia. Because specific information concerning the location and contents of archaeological sites is protected by Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. 50-18-72[a][10]), direct access to the complete information held by the GASF is restricted to qualified archaeologists and archaeology students. If a facility siting has the potential to impact an area of concentrated or known archaeological sites, then consultation with the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) would be required. • Surface Water Intake – According to the Georgia DNR Rule 391-3-16-.01, unless there are no other feasible locations, solid waste landfills should not be located within two miles of a surface water intake for a public water source. • Airport Safety – DNR Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(c) requires that new solid waste landfill units or lateral expansions of existing units shall not be within 5,000 feet of any runway planned or used for piston-type aircraft or within 10,000 feet of any runway planned or used for turbo-jet or piston-type aircraft. • Co-Located Landfills – Section 12-8-25.4 of the O.C.G.A. states that no solid waste handling facility, excluding materials recovery facilities and composting facilities, can be sited on a site that falls within a two-mile radius of three or more solid waste landfills (including closed landfills that received waste on or after June 29, 1989). • Political Subdivisions – O.C.G.A. Section 12-8-25 prohibits the siting of an MSW landfill within one-half mile of another County’s borders without the approval of the jurisdiction’s governing authority. • Private Recreational Camps – O.C.G.A. Section 12-8- 25.5 states that no permit shall be issued for any new municipal solid waste disposal facility if any part of the premises proposed for permitting is within one mile of any private recreational camp operated primarily for use by persons under 18 years of age and which camp has been so operated at its location for 25 years or more. • Zoning - DNR Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(a) requires that solid waste facility sites must conform to all local zoning/land use ordinances. The Gordon County Code of Ordinances, Article V, Section 18-145, allows solid waste landfills and transfer stations to be sited in a Heavy Industrial District (I2). Gordon County Landfill ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 32 Figure 6.1, provided by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, indicates the areas in Gordon County impacted by environmental limitations, as well as those impacted by some of the land use limitations described in Section 6.2. Figure 6.1: Landfill Siting Restrictions in Gordon County ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 33 6.4 – Local Procedures for Siting Solid Waste Facilities No proposed solid waste handling facility or facility expansion will be sited in Gordon County or any of its municipalities unless it is specifically mentioned in this Solid Waste Management Plan. A proposed solid waste handling facility can be added to the Plan through a Plan amendment process. A Plan amendment to add a proposed solid waste handling facility or facility expansion will be based on a determination that the proposed facility is consistent with the entire solid waste management system. The procedure to make the determination is as follows: 1. At least 60 days prior to filing for a solid waste handling permit, or notifying EPD in the case of a solid waste handling facility permit by rule, the applicant will submit to the governing body a written request for a Plan amendment documenting the following: a. How the proposed facility or facility expansion will meet the specific goals and/or needs identified in the Solid Waste Management Plan, including a description of: i. The impact upon the collection capability within the City and County ii. The impact upon disposal capacity identified in the City and County iii. The impact to the waste reduction and recycling efforts within the City and County, specifically how the proposed facility or facility expansion will further progress towards waste reduction. b. How the proposed facility or facility expansion and its operation will impact the community. Specifically what will be: i. The impact to vehicle traffic and public safety around the proposed facility and throughout the County. ii. The impact on natural or cultural resources with the County iii. The impact to individual and business solid waste management rates. iv. The impact on the current solid waste management infrastructure within the City and County, both public and private. c. The impact to the financial viability of the existing solid waste management system within the Cities and County. d. Evidence that the proposed facility or facility expansion is sited in an area deemed suitable according to the criteria listed in the Plan. e. Evidence that the proposed facility expansion is sited in a location that is consistent with the local zoning ordinances. f. Evidence that the proper public notification was given, including notification of all adjacent property owners. 2. Within 30 days after this documentation is received, the governing body will hold at least one public hearing on the proposed facility or facility expansion to gather input regarding the consistency of the facility with the Solid Waste Management Plan. This public hearing will be advertised according to local requirements regarding public notification of public hearings. 3. The governing body shall review the written request for an amendment and consider public comment and determine whether the proposed facility or facility expansion is consistent with the Solid Waste Management Plan. Within 30 days of making their determination the governing body shall notify the facility owner/operator whether or not the Solid Waste Management Plan will be amended to include the proposed facility or facility expansion. If the ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 34 Plan is not amended at this time, the developer may address the inconsistencies and resubmit their request for another review. 6.5 – Assessment The current land limitation elements appear to be adequately meeting the needs and the demand of the County and the all municipalities within the County. 6.6 – Needs and Goals Goal: To ensure that proposed solid waste handling facilities and expansions are developed to meet the needs of the County and are included in this Solid Waste Management Plan. 1. Keep all information about natural environmental limitations, zoning, and land use updated and available. 2. Inform and educate potential developers about the procedures to amend this Solid Waste Management Plan to add new facilities or facility expansions. 3. Enforce the requirement that no solid waste handling facility be sited in the County unless it is included in this Solid Waste Management Plan using the procedures described herein. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 35 Section 7 - Education and Public Involvement Solid waste management issues have received an increasing amount of attention in the past decade. Frequent television and newspaper reports appear on the subject, and there has been an increasing amount of legislation regulating solid waste management. Because of the increased exposure, particularly to environmental problems from old hazardous and solid waste facilities, education and public involvement are vital to the success of any solid waste management plan. Gordon County has an education program as a part of their solid waste management program. The local governments in Gordon County will continue to work together to improve the existing program as a part of their solid waste strategy. 7.1 - Education An effective education program helps residents become aware of and understand solid waste management issues. Education programs focus on the environmental and social concerns of littering, waste reduction, recycling, composting, energy recovery, and landfilling. More specifically, the program helps citizens understand their individual responsibilities in implementing the goals of Gordon County’s solid waste management plan. A variety of education programs will continue in Gordon County to ensure that residents of all age groups are aware of solid waste management issues. Education programs include school system programs and local government programs as described below. 7.1.1 - School System Programs Solid waste educational programs that target young people are an important aspect of solid waste planning. These programs help instill environmentally sound buying and disposal habits in young people. Education programs have been developed in Gordon County and will continue to be available and to grow. Santek employs a recycling coordinator who visits all grades in the city and county school systems to educate students on environmental issues and teach values of recycling and environmental awareness. Students are introduced to problems that arise when solid waste is not managed effectively, and are encouraged to participate in individual and community wide solutions to the solid waste disposal problems. Students take field trips to the local landfill and recycling center to see first hand how solid waste and recyclable products are managed. 7.1.2 - Local Government Programs City and County officials are also an important part of the educational program. Informed officials with knowledge of solid waste regulations, problems and services can better serve Gordon County’s needs. Local government education programs will emphasize the positive economic development aspects of solid waste management facilities. The public information program provides information through the following. Public speakers: Officials and recycling coordinator speak on the subject at various community club meetings. Newspapers: Local newspapers, such as the Calhoun Times feature articles. Television: The local cable television public access channel broadcasts ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 36 information. Radio: Local radio stations WJTH and WEBS provide educational information to a large audience at low relative costs. Brochures: Santek produces and makes available educational brochures to residential customers at convenient sites and certain businesses. 7.2 - Public Involvement Two public hearings were held in the course of completing the update of the Solid Waste Management plan. The first, held on March 6, 2007, was designed to acquaint interested persons with the current solid waste management plan and request suggestions from the community and local public officials. A subsequent public hearing was held on April 17, 2007 to present the draft update of the Solid Waste Management plan to the public and the local governments in Gordon County, and to solicit their input on the plan prior to its submittal to the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center for review. This update includes summaries of the current state of solid waste programs throughout Gordon County and was used in order to assess the effectiveness of current solid waste management activities. 7.3 – Assessment The current education and public involvement elements appear to be adequately meeting the needs and the demand of the County and the all municipalities within the County. 7.4 – Needs and Goals Goal: Ensure that all citizens of the County and Cities have access to information about waste reduction and solid waste management. 1. Expand avenues for education of the residential and commercial sector. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 37 Section 8 - Implementation Strategy 8.1 - Implementation The Implementation Strategy indicates what actions will be taken to achieve the needs and goals identified in the preceding Sections. In essence, it is a schedule of continuing and future programs for each element and covers a ten-year planning time frame. Table 8-1 reiterates the Needs and Goals associated with each element as defined in the previous Sections. Tables 8-1 through 8-5 include a summary of the activities and programs that Gordon County and the Cities of Calhoun, Fairmount, Plainville, Ranger and Resaca will undertake to meet the Needs and Goals articulated in each Section. The activities are listed by planning element (i.e. waste reduction, collection, disposal, land limitation and education and public involvement). The Table indicates the year that the activity will be implemented, the responsible party, the projected annual cost, and the potential source of funds to implement the activity. Some of the key undertakings with regard to recycling include the following: Gordon County will compare the costs and benefits when considering the required number of convenience centers located in the county. It may be possible to reduce the number of sites without hampering residents' accessibility. However, multiple locations of attended collection centers in the County would encourage residents to participate in recycling. In either case, the recycling drop-off centers will be attended facilities. Although attended facilities are obviously more expensive, experience in other communities has shown that recyclables will be contaminated with other solid waste materials, or otherwise improperly disposed if drop-off points are not attended. Much of the commercial and industrial waste is collected and hauled to the landfill in the companies' own vehicles. Thus, in order to meet the County's reduction goal of the County will work with commercial and industrial generators to implement recycling programs and to assist in quantifying the materials they already recycle. A variety of recycling programs will be developed, specifically tailored to individual business' and industries' needs. For instance, by adding a separate single item dumpster at commercial or industrial businesses, the container will be used for recyclable materials such as wood, high grade paper, mixed paper or corrugated cardboard. Additional economic incentives such as lower solid waste collection rates or free recyclable collection services will also be considered by local governments to encourage more participation. ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 38 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 39 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 40 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 41 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 42 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 43 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 44 Appendix – Gordon County Resolutions ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 45 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 46 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 47 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 48 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 49 ---PAGE BREAK--- P:\Governmental\G001 - Gordon County\103 - SWMP Update\Solid Waste Management Plan - 05-08_v2.doc 50