By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
The Tucker County Solid Waste Authority responded to concerns raised by the Davis Town Council recently over such matters as odor from the Landfill and windblown debris from the facility, during their latest meeting on June 29th at the TCSWA Office.
Tucker County Commissioner and TCSWA Board Member Fred Davis said he had spoken to representatives from the Davis Council. One of the things that the Town Council would like to get started, Davis said was recycling. Davis said that he informed them that recycling has taken a downturn lately and it was not fiscally viable for a while. However, the Board was open to discussions with the Council and perhaps something could be “figured out.”
As far as odor complaints, Davis explained that much of the issue comes from how a landfill operates. When old layers are dug up odors can be released, Davis explained. Old layers and dirt are dug up to allow for proper water drainage.
“A lot of people don’t understand when you dig the trash, when you go put another layer of trash in, you got to take the dirt and old trash out for the water to seep through it for it to do it correctly,” Davis said. “So when you pull the old trash out that’s been in there a few years, its going to smell for a little bit until they get the new trash put on it and get it covered again. That just happens.”
Most of the work that is being done on the high spots to allow for drainage was anticipated to be completed by the end of the week. Work in the low areas, Davis said do not carry the smell as badly as work on the higher areas do.
Other causes of landfill smell that cannot be avoided, the Board discussed was methane production. With the withdraw of the renewable natural gas company project, the Landfill currently has no way to trap or mitigate the release of methane from the facility. However, there has been preliminary interest from a company that specializes in smaller production landfill methane producers for methane capture and sale. But talks are in the very early stages, according to Landfill Director Jody Alderman.
“Until we can get through the gas either by flare or by somebody that wants to buy it, we’re going to have or you’re going to have some extra odor,” Alderman said.
The Board has discussed the possibility of a flare for the facility in the past, however, with interest from companies wanting to buy the gas produced by the landfill, financially, it does not seem reasonable to spend $300,000 on a flare when one of these companies will come in and collect the gas at their expense.
“There is still hope that we will still get something done for free and get paid for the gas before we go out and spend $300,000 or more just to burn off the gas,” Alderman said.
On the issue of windblown trash, Alderman had this to say, “I think we’ve had less windblown than we’ve ever had since I’ve been here.”
Davis said that he was pleased to see the difference from when he worked there in the 1980’s. TCSWA Vice Chair Dennis Filler said that it seemed most of the windblown trash was caught by the facility’s fencing, especially the portable fencing that has been invested in the past two years. Alderman said that the new cell will also help windblown by allowing crews to dump trash low in the winter during high winds and higher areas in the summer when winds are lower.
Much of the windblown, however is likely not even from the facility itself. It is coming from or leaving the facility in trucks that are not properly swept or covered. It was discussed that what is in the Landfill has no way to leave the facility.
“They’re not seeing our trash leaving on the highways, they’re seeing it on the trucks that’s bringing the trash in,” Alderman said.
“I guess about all we can do is remind the drivers to cover their loads,” Filler said.
Alderman said that West Virginia has a tarp law. The West Virginia tarp law and unsecured load regulations comes under Chapter 17C. Traffic Regulations and Laws of the Road.
“(a) No vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be operated on any highway unless such vehicle or combination of vehicles is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom, except that sand may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substance may be sprinkled on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining such roadway.
(b) It shall be unlawful to operate on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles with any load unless said load and any covering thereon is securely fastened so as to prevent said covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.”
According to the West Virginia Department of Transportation, first offense is a $250 fine, second offense is a $500 fine, third offense within a year is a $1,000 fine with a potential permit revocation and the possibility of jail time and personal injury/damage will cause fines to increase significantly if the escaped debris results in damage or an accident.
Best practice advice includes the use of a heavy duty mesh or solid tarp that completely covers the top of the truck bed or trailer. Also, ensure the tarp is tight enough to secure the front, sides and rear to prevent the wind from lifting the tarp or the cargo beneath. Remove or sweep any loose surface debris from the vehicle prior to driving to avoid windblown debris on roadways.
The West Virginia Department of Transportation supplies the following tips to properly secure cargo:
“Tie cargo down with rope, netting, or straps.
Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer.
Consider covering the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting.
Don’t overload the vehicle or trailer.
Always double-check the load to make sure it’s secure.
For more information on this campaign, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/drive-safe-secure-your-load
For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.”
