What’s in store for the future of the South Wake Landfill?

It's a topic of discussion at the board of commissioners meeting, as the landfill is expected to be full within the next 15-to-20 years.

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This is the same landfill residents say has been permeating an odor over the last several months.

On Monday, the brains behind the landfill and the Wake County Board of Commissioners discussed what options they have and how those options may impact people in the area. They say a project of this scale takes time to complete, and they need to get to work soon. 

John Boyer is one of the consultants on the project.

"The first goal we are hoping to address is to objectively evaluate long-term disposal options," Boyer said. "Landfilling has been the cornerstone of waste disposal in North Carolina, but there are other options out there."

The solid waste team presented the board with four potential options. 

  • Option 1 would be to construct a new landfill.
    • Option 2 would haul waste out of the county and dispose of it elsewhere.
      • Option 3 would construct a privately owned waste-to-energy facility.
        • Option 4 would involve the county looking into alternative disposal technology.

          John Roberson is the solid waste director for Wake County, he said now is the time to get the ball rolling on this project. 

          "Design, designing permitting, constructing a future disposal facility, whether it's a landfill or a waste-to-energy type of facility, [it] will take at least a decade for the process," Roberson said.

          Chloe Grove lives a stone's throw away from the landfill. She hopes the it is filled in sooner rather than later in hopes that the lingering smell goes away. 

          "You can smell it through the A/C, I feel like sometimes you can even smell it inside," Grove said. "Like you can't have your windows open because it will make your house inside smell bad."

          The solid waste team will begin seeking feedback from stakeholders this fall and then feedback from community members after that. They are scheduled to present their findings to the board of commissioners in four months.