Beaufort County moves to consolidate 10 collection sites into two staffed “mega” sites

Beaufort County commissioners on Monday reviewed a conceptual plan to consolidate the county’s 10 residential solid-waste collection sites into two staffed ‘‘mega’’ sites and authorized the county’s consultant to proceed toward preparing bid documents.

Christina, a county staff presenter, told the board the county currently operates 10 collection sites that accept municipal solid waste, bulky waste, cardboard, yard debris and used motor oil, and that the “majority of the tonnage is collected at only three sites” on the north side of the Pamlico River.

The plan presented by Vance Moore, a consultant with Garrett Moore, calls for two consolidated, manned sites — one serving the north side and one serving the south — with each site designed to accept all materials the county currently collects and to process yard waste on-site to reduce hauling costs. “Phase 1, dealing with conceptual design and partial identification, which we have completed,” Moore said. “Phase 2, property acquisition, which we are currently in our due diligence period, and closing is pending.”

Why it matters: Commissioners were told the county’s annual operating cost for collection and disposal has risen and that the program moved off general fund support in recent years to being supported entirely by an enterprise-funded solid waste collection fee on tax parcels. Five of the county’s 10 existing sites are leased, adding ongoing cost, and much of the waste volume…