The GBB Project Team provided an update to a feasibility report prepared by GBB, reviewing the status and cost of the County Sanitary landfill and the potential to implement a transfer station to haul County municipal solid waste (MSW) to another disposal site to prolong the useful life/availability of the County landfill.

As part of the project, GBB reviewed the enterprise fund statements and associated landfill cost/budget data, including projected costs to operate, close, and provide post-closure care of the landfill. Operational data, metrics, and expenses of the County’s convenience centers were examined. Landfill sitemaps were reviewed along with population and employment projections, recycling systems, and other relevant information.  The landfill was visited to observe its general operations, layout, ingress/egress, waste deliveries, types/numbers of delivery vehicles, and related infrastructure. The potential transfer station site was examined, and area roads, traffic conditions, and potential constraints associated with waste transport in long-haul transfer-type vehicles were reviewed.

GBB then prepared an updated economic analysis of the capital and operating costs of a transfer station sited at the landfill sized to handle the current and projected MSW from Charles County. Population and employment forecasts were taken into consideration along with the MSW stream reasonably expected to be under the County’s control, and the projected diversion to reuse and recycling presented in the Charles County Solid Waste Management Plan or otherwise reported by Charles County.

GBB provided an updated life-cycle cost projection for the transfer station disposal system, including operation, transport, and disposal services provided by a private service contractor. As part of the analysis, GBB projected the County’s costs to continue operating its landfill versus developing a transfer station and privatizing operations, transport, and disposal services.

The final report included an economic analysis completed; certain considerations, issues, and needs associated with privatization and the potential procurement contemplated by the County; certain factors in the region that may impact a potential procurement; and other findings, conclusions, and recommendations from GBB’s review of data, research, and analysis.