Regionalism Brings About Trash Savings

The News & Advance
Published: July 8, 2008

Five localities in the region are already beginning to reap the benefits of a regional landfill. And it has only been operating since the first of the month.

Campbell County and Lynchburg are the biggest players in the regional approach to the disposal of household trash. Joining them in this venture that will reduce the cost of such a basic service as the disposal of solid waste are Appomattox and Nelson counties and Bedford city.

The Region 2000 Services Authority has taken over operation of the Lynchburg landfill on Concord Turnpike. Appropriately enough, the landfill has taken on a new name: the Concord Turnpike Regional Landfill.

The former Lynchburg landfill has five or six years left before it is full. That means Campbell County can close its landfill on Livestock Road for the time being. Campbell’s solid waste is now going to Lynchburg.

Campbell County Administrator David Laurrell said the move could save the county some $700,000 to $1 million annually in the long term. The savings result from the economies of scale involved in taking on larger amounts of trash from several localities.

“Our savings are in the future,” Laurrell said recently. “They’re not yesterday or the day before. They’re going forward. It’s a tremendous economy of scale ... involved here.”

Lynchburg City Manager Kimball Payne said the great deal for the city is not having to worry about locating and building a new landfill when the current one fills up.

That’s because the Region 2000 Services Authority will reopen the Campbell County landfill, which officials say will have as many as seven years remaining in its life. So that gives the regional authority 13 to 15 years before it has to move to either a new landfill or make other arrangements for solid waste disposal.

Clarke Gibson, solid waste director for the regional authority, said the region’s options at that point could be taking the trash to a landfill outside the region or building a waste-to-energy plant that would burn trash to generate electricity. That sounds like an energy conservation plan that could reduce the use of fossil fuel, something that is critical today, but could become far more critical by 2023.

Bedford City Manager Charles Kolakowski said the city would begin saving money right away on transportation costs. It has been hauling trash to a transfer station in Amelia. From there it was going to another landfill.

Residents of Appomattox and Nelson counties will keep using the collection services or convenience stations currently in use. Like most residents in Campbell County and Lynchburg, they will see little or no change in their garbage pickup schedule.

Gibson pointed out another advantage of the regional approach. Lynchburg and Campbell residents will be able to make multiple trips to the landfill each month with a 500-pound limit. Those residents were formerly limited to one trip and 250 pounds.

Amherst County was once a part of the regional plan for waste disposal, but backed out last year when a majority of the Board of Supervisors decided — probably incorrectly — that the county couldn’t save money over the long haul.

The regional approach to solid waste disposal is the right way to go — as is the approach to a number of other local government services on a regional basis. Region 2000 continues to be on the right track in helping Central Virginia localities plan for the future through the more efficient delivery of regional government services.

Thanks to the regional authority, those participating localities are already beginning to save tax money that can be diverted to other needed services.