HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-10-23, Page 22 -THS HURON IXPOSITOR, Ootobor 23, 11111111
News and Views
Grinding garbage could extend life of landfill
BY DAVID SCOTT
Expositor Editor
The supervisor of the Mid -
Huron Landfill Site (MHLS)
in Holmesville is convinced
that if garbage is ground up
the fife of the landfill could
be greatly extended.
Frank Postill stated in a
memorandum to the MHLS
board on October 17 that if
"we can grind everything
grindable, we could at least
double, if not triple the pre-
sent life of our landfill. Many
items will be greatly reduced
in volume."
Engineers have estimated
there's at least 12 to 13 years
left in the site's life.
Because materials would be
fed through a grinding
machine, it would he easier
to sort out steel and some
other recyclable items that
"currently end up in the
garbage."
Postill also said it would
clean up the presence of the
landfill. "The site would look
better because there would be
less papers to blow around."
However, grinders for land-
fills don't come cheap. One
company Postill looked into
for a possible purchase
charges about $265,000 for a
new grinder. There was a
used one available for about
$160,000. The rental price is
$15,000 a month, towards the
purchase price.
Board member Bill Teall of
Seaforth asked how many
other landfills were using
grinders.
The site supervisor said
most likely more in the U.S.
"But we're probably unique.
At 50 tonnes a day (of
garbage received at the site)
we could handle -grinding."
Postill stated in his report to
the hoard that most machines
easily grind 15 to 20 tonnes
of garbage per hour on most
materials. And if a machine
was purchased it would he
operated by present landfill
staff.
"It should greatly reduce
the amount of dirt for cover
material," he said.
Board chair Laurie Cox of
Goderich Township said it
was "an interesting proposal"
and mentioned the possibility
of doing custom work for
other municipalities or land-
fills if a grinder was pur-
chased. •
"I really think we should be
talking to a landfill with one
to see the operating cost,"
said Cox.
"The increase cost of run-
ning the grinder would be
offset by the decrease in
expenses of other equipment
and cover material used, and
we would not have to hire out
to chip construction wood
and brush," stated Postill's
report to the hoard.
Presently the landfill
spends approximately $8,000
a year to have chipping down
at the site.
A motion was passed for
Postill and Ken Hunter, of
Goderich, to investigate fur-
ther on other landfills that use
grinders, operational costs
and a possible budget to pre-
sent for the next MHLS
board meeting.
Huron County's latest pro-
posal -for waste management
has garbage from the eight
member communities of the
MHLS board going to the
Exeter landfill when the
Holmesville site is full.
The MHLS is presently
used and owned by the towns
of Clinton, Seaforth and
Goderich, townships of
Colborne, Goderich and
Tuckersmith and villages of
Bayfield and Lucknow.
September a Wet Month
The month of September is
the highest so far this year for
leachate volume. Leachate is
the liquid created when rain
falls on the landfill: It's regu-
larly removed and trucked to
a holding facility in Goderich
where it's released into the
sewage system.
Rainfall has a direct affect
on the leachate volume and
the total for September was
141,146 gallons, higher than
May's total of 128,743 gal.
and April's 127,743. August
was the driest month this
year with just 55,617 gallons
of leachate measured.
Municipal Summary
From accumulated monthly
totals, the following figures
in brackets represent that
community's percentage of
the total garbage at the Mid -
Huron Landfill Site since
January. 1996:
Clinton (10.284%),
Goderich (44.505%),
Seaforth (8.457%), Colborne
(5.933%), Twp. of Goderich
(13.08,1%), Tuckersmith
(8.33), Bayfield (5.412%)
and Lucknow (3.995%).
Tender Drafts Approved •
Draft forms of landfill ten-
ders and quotations for sup-
ply of diesel fuel, leachate
hauling, steel pick-up, card-
board pick-up and supply of
.propane were approved at the
MHLS hoard's October 17
meeting.
Perth County
may share
services with
Huron County
Perth County Council is
willing to discuss sharing of
services with its neighbor
Huron County.
At last Thursday's meeting
of Perth County Council,
reeves agreed to meet with its
neighbors to the west.
Huron -County wants to
look at the possibility of con-
tacting all counties abutting
Huron County to see if they
are interested in discussing a
possible merger of counties
and/or sharing of services.
"I think we're foolish not to
investigate sharing of ser-
vices.We purchased some
equipment that might be pos-
sibility to use with Huron
County," said Hibbert Reeve
Walter McKenzie.
Lynn Murray, Huron
County's clerk -administrator,
said Huron County Council
has not heard from any of its
other neighbors.