Columbus, Georgia

Memorandum



To: Isaiah Hugley, City Manager



From: Rufus Riggs, Director of Public Services



Date: May 25, 2005



Subject: Inert Waste Disposal

______________________________________________________________________________



Several weeks ago, Councilor Turner-Pugh requested the staff examine the

feasibility of using property owned by the city in Chattahoochee County for

yard debris disposal.



A thorough review of the property and the associated cost has been performed.

A site visit was conducted to determine if the topography would accommodate

inert waste disposal. We believe there are areas on the property that would be

suitable for inert waste disposal if permitted by the State of Georgia

Environmental Protection Division (EPD). A survey is required to determine the

amount of available space.



Of greater concern, is the transportation cost associated with transferring

waste to the Chattahoochee County property. The distance from Columbus to the

property, which is 30 miles, prohibits each collection vehicle (garbage truck)

traveling to the property each time it has to dump. The travel time from

Columbus for each collection vehicle one way is approximately one hour. This

equals to approximately 4 hours spent on traveling to and from the dumpsite.

This non-productive time would prevent routes from being completed daily and

add significant wear and tear on each truck.



A transfer point would be necessary to transport the waste to Chattahoochee

County. An estimate of the cost to start up a transfer operation is listed:



Construction of Transfer Point $200,000.00

Loader $190,000.00

Bull Dozer $320,000.00

3 Transfer Trucks w/Trailers $350,000.00

Five Employees $170,000.00

TOTAL $1,230,000.00



The option to use city owned property in Chattahoochee County for inert waste

disposal is not recommended.



Cc: Lisa Goodwin, Dep City Manager

Liz Turner, Citizen?s Service Center

Lynnette Gross, Community Reinvestment

Rachel Buice, Dep Director, Public Services