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2020 Solid Waste and Moderate <br />Risk Waste Management Plan Update <br /> <br />AX0304191054PDX 6-7 <br />6.3.3 Landfill Disposal Needs and Opportunities <br />Given current technology and disposal patterns, landfills are and will remain a necessary and important <br />component of waste management. Source reduction and recycling can divert significant portions of the <br />waste stream, but not all components of the waste stream are recyclable. Therefore, Kittitas County will <br />be required to continue to secure out-of-County disposal capacity or create additional capacity within the <br />County. For now, the Greater Wenatchee Landfill has capacity well beyond the timeframe addressed by <br />this plan. Consideration for an alternative disposal arrangement is included. <br />6.3.4 Landfill Disposal Recommended Options and Implementation Actions <br />The following options for landfill disposal are recommended. Each option and the associated <br />implementation actions are discussed below. <br />6.3.4.1 Long-Term Disposal Opportunities <br />Evaluate other long-term disposal opportunities, such as: <br /> Contracting with a landfill operator <br /> Contracting with a WTE facility or conversion technology operator <br /> Evaluating the possibility of rail-haul <br />6.3.4.2 Contractual Arrangements <br />Investigate contractual arrangements with other landfills to maximize benefit to the County. This will also <br />provide an opportunity to establish an alternative disposal arrangement if Wenatchee Landfill experiences <br />a temporary or long-term closure. Alternative organics disposal would need to be coordinated with <br />neighboring counties (e.g., Yakima and Grant) with an apple maggot hauling plan (Department of <br />Agriculture permit). Renegotiating contracts can result in: <br /> Lower tipping fees (disposal costs). <br /> Established tipping fee escalation rate, which will help with future budgeting. <br /> Can provide the County with more stable, long-term pricing (i.e., 5-year, with renewals). <br />6.4 Alternative Disposal Technologies <br />This section provides an overview of some of the emerging technologies that are being implemented in <br />various locations throughout the world as alternatives to landfill disposal. These technologies convert <br />post-recycling residual solid waste into useful products and chemicals, including ethanol and biodiesel, <br />and energy. The technologies may be thermal, chemical or biological. These technologies have been <br />used successfully to manage MSW in Europe and Asia, but not all have progressed to commercial <br />development in the United States. <br />Some of these technologies are relatively new, while others have been known for many years. Their <br />application to the solid waste industry is, however, more recent and not as well developed. <br />Some of the anticipated benefits include the ability to manage excess biomass and organic wastes, ability <br />to maintain local control over disposal, ability to locally produce renewable energy and green fuels, and <br />promotion of energy independence from foreign oil. <br />Table 6-6 provides a very general comparative overview of these technologies. <br />~ ~