The Greensboro City Council is directing staff to issue a new request for proposals to solicit private vendors to operate Phase III of the White Street Landfill.
The council came out of closed session to take the vote during a special meeting to discuss a lawsuit filed against the city by northeast Greensboro residents who oppose the reopening of the landfill. The council also voted to set aside an old request for proposals, or RFP. This will be the third one issued.
The lawsuit against the city cites state law requiring cities to hold a public hearing before permitting a new landfill, and to consider alternative sites and socio-economic data. The city had begun negotiations with two solid waste companies to operate the landfill for at least 15 years when the lawsuit was filed. The city ran into trouble because the currently permitted portion of the landfill is expected to fill to capacity in two to six years. Contracting with a company to operate the landfill for 15 years would necessarily involve obtaining permits to operate additional phases.
The new RFP also calls for accepting only 140,000 tons per year, which is the amount collected by city forces. The previous RFP would have had the landfill accepting 240,000 tons.
City Manager Rashad Young said he plans to bring the new RFP back to council for approval in two weeks.
Finalizing a contract before the next council is seated in early December, when a new majority might elect to keep the landfill closed, would be ambitious.
The RFP that was set aside today provided for a period of four months and three weeks between the date of it was issued and when council was supposed to approve the contract. By that measure, the council might approve a contract by late November -- just under the wire.
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