Cleaning up a messy situation: New Rockbridge County landfill unlikely
By Britt Staniar
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors has approved a $25,000 deposit for the potential purchase of a trash collection/transfer site, decreasing the chances that a new landfill will be built in Rockbridge County.
The site, located just off of Route 60, would allow for trash to be stored and then trucked to a landfill outside of Rockbridge County when the current county landfill gets full. That's estimated to happen some time between 2010 and 2012.
According to Supervisor Mack Smith, the proposed collection/transfer site would mean that the county most likely will not build a new landfill anywhere in the near future.
“We’ve been favoring that mode because it’s cheaper,” said Smith, explaining why the Board of Supervisors is leaning towards trucking trash out of the area rather than building a new landfill.
The county’s $25,000 refundable deposit gives the county 90 days to study the property and to decide whether or not to purchase the site, which will cost $785,000.
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming
Editing supervisor: Prof. Pamela Luecke
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd