Sustainable Solid Waste Management - Program Update
During the next 10 years, solid waste management in Alachua County will change significantly. Alachua County has taken steps to shape the future of solid waste by adopting a 75% recycling goal in the Comprehensive Plan.
Beginning in 2008, the County Commission requested that staff evaluate options for increasing the diversion of solid waste from landfills. Staff, with the assistance of consultants, have studied the feasibility of converting the County’s existing transfer station into a materials recovery facility as well as the feasibility of recycling organics. The materials recovery facility would recover valuable materials from the waste stream that can be used in an organics recycling facility while also keeping solid waste system costs as low as possible. By converting to a materials recovery facility, the County can maximize the recovery of materials from the mixed waste stream. This will assist the County in meeting the 75% recycling goals established by Florida Statute and the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Development of this plan is essential to ensure the availability of waste to support the innovative projects that the County are planning, including a Resource Recovery Park, organics recycling and other alternative technologies that may emerge.
The following documents have been presented to the Board of County Commissioners.