HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-15-2013-13 (4)INFORMATION ITEM
Memorandum
To: Michael Talbert, Interim County Manager
From: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Management Director
Subject: Walnut Grove Convenience Center — Information Report
Date: September 30, 2013
The newly reconstructed Walnut Grove Church Road Solid Waste Convenience Center opened on May 7,
2013 and this memorandum will summarize the experiences and observations at this site over the first
four months of its operation. This memorandum will also provide intended courses of action based on
these observations to improve or remedy identified shortcomings. Funding for these corrective
improvements /enhancements will be made from the $53,962 remaining Walnut Grove construction
project budget.
Public Feedback
The feedback from customers who use the center has been overwhelmingly positive. Of particular note
are the comments regarding the additional recycling services offered and the cleanliness and
appearance of the paved site. The negative comments have been minimal, but some users who are
used to driving back and forth around the previous site feel constrained having to follow more
prescribed traffic patterns. Two comments have been received with regard to vehicles not being able to
pull extremely close to the compactor hoppers so that the distance to throw the waste is less.
Additionally, a small number of users do not like having to wait 3 -5 minutes to dispose of their waste
when the site is busy and there is a 4 -5 car line at the compactors.
Lessons Learned
Facilities /Construction
There have been a few lessons learned with regard to design and construction of the facility that will
inform staff as planning for the next District center modernization proceeds:
• Two bulky waste compactors rather than one should have been installed. Bulky items do not
compact as well as require more frequent service. Two were originally planned, but due to
project budget concerns the second unit was eliminated. Currently a roll -off is utilized for
overflow, but it must be emptied frequently.
• Concrete compactor pads were originally not long enough and through a change order had to be
lengthened by about 15 feet.
• Gutters should have been originally designed for each building structure to better control water
and were added later.
• Insufficient landscape buffering was originally installed that later had to be supplemented by
additional plantings.
• The center attendant booth between the compactors and salvage shed area is seldom used as
the attendants must remain near compactors. The booth may be eliminated from future center
designs.
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• The center operators are stationed at the compactors most of the time and therefore need
some protective cover from sun and weather, such as a canopy. We are utilizing umbrellas at
present, but these are marginally effective. More permanent covering should be considered.
Additionally, some center operators are suffering from lower body fatigue from standing on a
hard surface all day. Anti - fatigue matts should be placed under the canopy in the areas where
the operators will be standing in order to reduce the impact of the hard surfaces that can
contribute to sore feet, legs and hips.
• 110 volt outlets should have also been provided near the compactors; compactors operate off of
460 volts which is not suitable for other electrical power needs.
• Additional covered storage is needed for skid steer, lawn mower and various implements and
miscellaneous supplies.
• Need to provide additional concrete (instead of asphalt) surface to allow the skid steer to more
easily maneuver about to load white goods into the recessed container.
• The HHW receiving area would be more functional during inclement weather if it were covered.
When raining the HHW attendant must greet customers, remove delivered materials from the
customer vehicle and assess material for proper disposal categorization. A dry area for assessing
and sorting of potentially hazardous material is desired. The need for a receiving canopy was
discussed during design but not included due to concern for interference with flow of traffic and
project budget concerns. The current HHW facility at Eubanks Road has a covered receiving
area.
Operations
Staff has identified several practices, refinements and adjustments that have been implemented or
noted as an issue to be addressed with regard to operations:
• To ensure that both MSW compactors do not become filled at the same time, unless the center
is extremely busy, only one MSW compactor is made available at a time.
• The new used lumber salvage area has been lightly utilized to date.
• For the first several weeks of operation additional staff (mostly paid temporary and early -on
volunteers) were provided to assist permanent staff in orienting residents to the new site,
answering questions and explaining rules. This has been quite useful in assisting center users,
cultivating desirable center use habits, explaining new services and maintaining good traffic
flow. Most users appear to be becoming more comfortable and familiar with the site.
• When the compactors are serviced and the compaction box is uncoupled from the stationary
compaction unit materials were discharged onto the ground before the hopper door could be
secured. This created a pile of debris /material that had to be cleaned -up with each uncoupling,
which took about 20 minutes. Center staff, through trial and error, developed a method by
which this is significantly reduced.
• The bulky waste compactor reaches capacity more quickly than our projections indicated so that
it will be necessary to install a second compactor in the near future. The compactor is available
at original bid price and existing conduit will facilitate wiring.
• Initial quantities of food waste received are below expectations, partially because of users
desire to place their waste into the containers in the plastic bags they use at home to store their
kitchen waste. These plastic bags are non - compostable and are not accepted by our contract
food waste collector as they are incompatible with their composting process. We are currently
working with our composting contractor to identify acceptable compostable plastic bags. Once
identified, we will consider distribution of these bags to users of the food waste program. The
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food waste containers are also drawing flies and bees that we are actively working to address by
applying powdered lime at the end of each day, which seems to be helping.
• The single textiles receptacle filled within a few days so staff located a second receptacle.
• Plastic film receptacles were originally too small and filled up too quickly. Larger receptacles
were obtained and are working well.
• As mentioned above, center attendants are stationed at the compactors virtually full time to
maintain compactor hopper capacity to allow for the continuous flow of customers and
therefore need shelter from the sun /weather. The umbrellas currently in use are inadequate.
• Given the large size of the center, the many services provided, the need to clean up spills and
litter, the distance between the four MSW /recycling compactors and the bulky waste compactor
that require frequent activation, the need to closely monitor the compactors, the need to haul
unacceptable items from the salvage shed for disposal and the necessity to oversee and advise
customers to follow materials separation rules and limit contamination, the current two full
time center attendants are unable to adequately maneuver around the center to monitor the
various recycling and disposal stations and to assist customers. The distance is too great and the
center attendants are simply physically incapable of scurrying around the center to effectively
provide the necessary customer service and satisfactorily overseeing operations. Some means
of internal transportation would seem necessary.
• Currently there are two permanent county staff assigned to the center and one contract
employee provided by our household hazardous waste (HHW) contractor. Given the afore
stated necessity of the two center attendants stationing near the compactors and the size of the
center, cooperation of the contractor has been obtained in that their employee will assist in
monitoring services near the HHW area such as motor oil, batteries, food waste, etc. If this
contract employee were to be replaced by a permanent Sanitation Division employee center
customer service, maintenance, enforcement and supervision could be expanded and improved
(and existing supplemental staffing assistance eliminated). Otherwise supplemental staffing by
temporary employees may be necessary indefinitely to oversee the site on busier days.
Increased Efficiencies /Usage
Plastic Film - Between 6 -8 40 gallon bags of plastic film (a newly added recycling material) are
collected weekly.
Electronics — An additional trailer of electronics is being collected weekly at the new site
(5 /week versus 6 /week)
Cardboard — The new cardboard compactor is collected and taken to market every two weeks.
Previously, the ten 8 cu /yd. cardboard dumpsters were emptied and hauled to market 3
times /week. We have seen that the average monthly tonnage of cardboard going to market is
about the same but the average load weight to market has gone from about 3 tons per truck trip
(average) to Durham paper market to almost 5 tons per tuck trip (average) to Durham. This
seems to be a very good return on investment in terms of fuel usage, carbon emissions and
wear and tear on the trucks.
Single Stream — The single stream material compactor is collected and taken to market
once /week. Previously, the four 25 cu /yd. containers were each emptied 2 -3 times /week. Our
tonnage is very similar to the old WG tonnages (20 -30 tons per month) but even at this early
stage at the new facility we can see a slow but continuous uptick in volume coming in. Average
tons per load hauled to Eubanks Road processing center was 1.76 /tons /load and currently
(through use of compactor) is 6.1 tons /load.
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Staff Responses /Actions
➢ Proceed to install more permanent canopy (that also includes a raised platform with anti -
fatigue /slip mat surface) adjacent to compactors that will shade and shelter center
attendants. A 110 volt line will be extended so that fans can be provided to cool staff during
the summer. Cost of three 6'X8' metal canopies (matching other metal structures on site),
including the extension of 110 volt power, the platform, etc. is estimated to be $8,494.
➢ Obtain a modified golf cart that can be used to quickly move to a disposal or recycling station
and address customer questions, enforce material separation rules, haul trash from the
salvage shed, monitor various material stations, collect litter and clean up spillage, or even to
use toilet facilities, etc. The site is so large that coverage of the entire site by walking is not
practicable and an attendant is unable to leave compactors unattended for any length of time.
Will include in FY 2014/15 budget request. Estimated cost of electric cart is $10,700
➢ Acquire a storage shelter ( 16'X20') for storage of the skid steer and implements, lawnmower,
spill absorbent, bags of lime and other tools or equipment. Estimated cost is $5,068.
➢ As part of FY 2014/15 budget process, coordinate staff analysis with Human Resources to
consider replacement of existing contract HHW employee and frequent third temporary
convenience center operator with one permanent Sanitation Division staff, who would be
certified to manage daily HHW program.
➢ Proceed to identify, obtain and begin distribution of approved compostable plastic food waste
bags to food waste program users so that they may more easily and sanitarily store and
deliver their food waste to the center food waste receptacle.
➢ Consider recommendation for permanent canopy for HHW receiving area in FY 2014/15
budget.
➢ Acquire two additional compactor containers for storage of bulky waste at original price of
$16,196. Consider a second bulky waste compactor in the FY 2014/15 budget as current
project budget balance cannot fully fund a new compactor at this time.
Estimated cost of current year planned improvements is $29,758. Staff is available to provide additional
information as necessary.
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