Return of the White Street Landfill battle

If campaign pledges to cut costs in the fall of 2009 are fulfilled and if the budgetary angst of the spring of 2010 holds, expect a pitched battle during the Greensboro City Council's briefing at 3 p.m. on Tuesday when the council receives a proposal evaluation from consultant HDR on options for solid waste disposal.

At-large member Robbie Perkins has been outspoken in opposition to reopening the landfill, and District 1 Councilwoman Dianne Bellamy-Small and District 2 Councilman Jim Kee can be expected to join him. Mayor Bill Knight campaigned on a pledge to look at the potential for cost savings by exploring solid waste options, a sentiment shared by District 5 Councilwoman Trudy Wade. Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Vaughan said during the campaign that she opposed reopening the White Street Landfill. At-large Councilman Danny Thompson, District 3 Councilman Zack Matheny and District 4 Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw are somewhat less staked out on the issue.

The professional recommendations by HDR toss the decision back into the policy arena, and challenge the council to establish its priorities:

If cost of service is most important...

* Consider landfill-based system at White Street with private operation or city operation
* Consider expanding service area to yield host fee

If alternative technology is most important, while minimizing the cost of service...

*Consider landfill-based system at White Street with future [waste-to-energy] facility
* Consider expanding service area to yield host fee

If reopening White Street is not an option...

* Consider Kernersville Landfill or one of the [waste-to-energy] offers, or
* Continue out-of-county disposal

Based on this statement ("If alternative technology is most important, while minimizing cost of service, consider landfill-based system at White Street with future WTE facility") the gasification technology proposed by Ulturnagen and the pyrolysis technology proposed by Cico appear to be distant prospect.