Appomattox County is Planning Ahead for Solid Waste
Solid waste management is an important piece of the larger puzzle that every municipality must consider when looking toward the future of its community. Planning for solid waste is critical for ensuring the health of the public and environment are protected, safeguarding the long-term sustainability of waste management systems and facilities, and supporting the local economy.
Appomattox County, Virginia, is one of McGill’s valued clients who we have been working with on its solid waste engineering initiatives. In 2024, the County hired us to evaluate short- and long-term solutions for its waste disposal needs and prepare a detailed assessment of its solid waste disposal options.
Project Obstacles
- Appomattox County is facing the pending closure of its solid waste disposal operation at a regional landfill facility. The County’s current disposal facility is projected to close in 2029. Though it is a few years out, this is still a short timeframe to devise a long-term solution.
- Per year, Appomattox County handles approximately 5,700 tons of residential waste. This relatively small amount of waste can be problematic, though, due to the limited potential for revenue to pay for the development cost of the projected disposal options.
McGill’s comparison evaluation took these two challenges into account in providing a recommendation for future solid waste disposal in Appomattox County.
Evaluating Various Options
Our team was hired to prepare a detailed evaluation of the solid waste disposal options for the County. McGill’s first step was to review information provided by Appomattox County, including its current operational, financial, solid waste facility permitting, and regional facility data. Working with the County, we created a list of waste disposal options and strategies for a 20-year planning period. From this list, our staff generated a financial model for each disposal strategy, including operational and development costs and a timeline for implementation.
Based on the financial models, McGill produced a comparison evaluation to rank the disposal options based on development cost, long-term solution for the County, and timeline for implementation. Finally, our team prepared a detailed report to summarize the comparison evaluation and presented a summary to the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors.
Benefits to the County
Our evaluation provided County supervisors with the information to make an informed decision on the future handling of solid waste within the County. They can move forward with this knowledge, preparing for the future and enhancing their community in the years to come.
Why Plan for Solid Waste?
Long-term planning is crucial to making decisions about solid waste operations. Each county and municipality has different operational needs and financial capabilities. Long-term planning allows managers to have the necessary information to make sound decisions, so that waste disposal projects can be developed in a timely and cost-effective manner.
How McGill Can Help
If your community needs assistance with solid waste engineering needs, reach out to Mark Cathey, PE, Principal / Vice President / Regional Manager, at mark.cathey@mcgillassociates.com or 828.252.0575, and read more about our solid waste services.
