Compost Central Relocati??‹on
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Frequently Asked Questions:
What are Compost Central and the West Mecklenburg Recycling Center?
Compost Central is the County’s primary yard trimmings management facility and is the County’s only composting center, producing a compost product for sale from the yard trimmings received.
More than 100,000 tons of yard trimmings were received in Fiscal Year 2014 at all County facilities. Compost Central received roughly 60% of this material, mostly collected from residential curbside yard trimmings collection and landscapers.
Compost Central is also one of four facilities within the County where storm debris such as fallen limbs and overturned trees, resulting from a significant weather event, can be managed.
The West Mecklenburg Recycling Center is one of four full service recycling centers operated by the County and is located adjacent to Compost Central. The other three centers are geographically spaced within other quadrants in the northern portion of the County (North Mecklenburg Recycling Center), the eastern portion of the County (Hickory Grove Recycling Center) and the southern portion of the County (Foxhole Recycling Center).
Where is Compost Central/West Mecklenburg Recycling Center?
Compost Central is currently located at 5631 West Boulevard in Charlotte and is directly south of Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CDIA) on roughly 60 acres of property owned by the City of Charlotte. The County has operated Compost Central at this location since 1992 under a land lease agreement with the City.
The West Mecklenburg Recycling Center is located adjacent to Compost Central; however, the center has a separate entrance off of Piney Top Drive.
Why are these facilities moving?
Proposed Airport Expansion – CDIA informed the County of its intention to build a new 12,000-foot runway at the airport that would extend into the parcel leased by the County, essentially bisecting the parcel. CDIA has told the County that operations at Compost Central will need to move by 2015.
Where is the new location?
The future location for Compost Central and West Mecklenburg Recycling Center operations is a property located in the 6500-6700 blocks of Rozzelles Ferry Road. The 50-acre parcel is bounded by Rozzelles Ferry Road, Valleydale Road and Fred Alexander Boulevard.
Why did the County choose this site?
- Currently, the County has four full-service recycling centers strategically placed at locations around the County. The County has found that this geographic distribution is important and works well for customers as it reduces drive time and transportation costs for residential and commercial users of the facilities. To maintain this level of service, a facility is needed in western Mecklenburg County.
- The property contains the 50 acres of land necessary to adequately receive, process and compost the yard trimmings as well as include a full-service recycling center on the property.
- The property has no significant topography, drainage, traffic, water quality buffers or adjacent land use barriers.
- The property is located in the appropriate I-2 zoning category per information communicated to the County by the City’s Planning Department.
- The property possesses proper street access for use by heavy trucks accessing the facility.
- The property is situated at a location well suited to the yard trimmings delivery patterns of the facility’s largest customer, the City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services.
Who currently owns this site?
The site is currently owned by Mecklenburg County. The BOCC approved the purchase of the property in October 2013.
Can I tour the existing Compost Central facility?
Yes, Mecklenburg County will provide a tour of the existing compost facility; simply call 704-336-4304 to schedule a tour.
Will this facility smell?
Compost facilities typically have the scent of cut grass, leaves and limbs, otherwise known as organic materials. The current facility has not had any documented odor complaints in its operating history.
Will this facility be noisy?
During operating hours there will be some background noise typical of an industrial operation. Noises at this type of facility include truck operations and backing alarms, grinders and windrow turners. Operations occur during daylight hours with limited operations on Saturdays and only very rare operations on Sundays. The current facility has not had any noise complaints in its operating history.
How will the trucks affect traffic in the area?
Mecklenburg County has conducted a study to determine the effect of traffic on its neighbors. This study has been made publicly available and can be found at www.wipeoutwaste.com on the Compost Central Relocation page.
Can the public use Compost Central/West Mecklenburg Recycling Center?
Yes, the facilities are open for public use. Citizens may bring their yard trimmings to Compost Central. Citizens operating vehicles larger than an automobile will be charged a disposal fee. The operating hours are Monday through Friday, 7am until 5pm. The Saturday operating hours are 7am until 4pm. You may call 704-588-9092 for disposal fee and product sales, or visit www.wipeoutwaste.com.
The West Mecklenburg Recycling Center is also open for public use. The operating hours are Monday-Saturday, 7am to 4pm.
What materials can I take to the Recycling Center?
All four fully staffed recycling centers accept the same recyclable materials that are collected in the curbside residential programs, as well as household hazardous waste, white goods or appliances, scrap tires, metal, discarded electronics, household garbage and small quantities of construction and demolition waste. The facility collects and processes residential and commercial recyclables, yard trimmings and solid waste. Approximately 500 tons of recyclables are received annually at this recycling center.
How can I learn more about this project?
For more information on the relocation of Compost Central project, you may visit www.wipeoutwaste.com or call Solid Waste at 704-336-8393.
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