The Habersham County Landfill is no longer accepting construction and demolition debris (C&D). The county stopped accepting C&D waste at the end of business on Friday, Feb. 29. The move is part of an effort to expand the life of the landfill, which once was projected to last well into this century.
With the C&D cell now closed to the public, how long can county residents expect the landfill to last?
To answer that question, the county commissioned a study in August. According to the engineering firm of Hodges, Harbin, Newberry, and Tribble, Inc. (HHNT) of Statesboro, the municipal solid waste (MSW) cells have approximately 17 years remaining before they reach full capacity. The engineering report estimates the landfill will be at capacity in May 2040.
An email from HHNT engineer Ryan Willoughby to Interim Solid Waste Director Johnnie Vickers dated September 15, stated that the anticipated life of the landfill was calculated using the remaining volume, a five-year average density achieved, the reported tonnage for the year, and assumes 281 operating days per year.
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However, the survey did not break out anticipated growth. Instead, engineers used a large number for annual tonnage to factor in growth.
Documents from the county show that two growth models were generated. The first model was based on the amount of MSW brought to the landfill over the last 11 years and averaged out over that period. Growth was factored year over year for that same period.
The 11-year model puts the life expectancy of the landfill at approximately mid-January of 2039. The 11-year model factored in an average annual growth rate of 5.75%.
The second model averaged the MSW brought to the landfill over the last four years. Growth was averaged over that same period. This model matches the life expectancy that the engineers presented to the county last September. The four-year model saw the landfill grow at an average rate of 4.59%.
The county anticipates the population to grow over the next several years due to the development of the inland port in Hall County. Should the landfill exceed 4.6% growth year over year due to the anticipated population growth, the Habersham County Commission will have less than 15 years to put a plan in place to meet the solid waste management needs of the county.
