Home › News › Local news
In the Know: What’s the capacity of Collier’s landfill?
More Local news 
Share and Enjoy 
Q: I would appreciate some information, as precise as possible, regarding the capacity and duration of accumulation of waste and garbage in the Collier County Landfill. I would also like to know if they have an incinerator working now and how long it will be operational.
- Sergio Orozco, East Naples
A: The local landfill, located off White Lake Boulevard just north of Alligator Alley, does not have an incinerator.
The landfill’s lined-cell capacity is estimated to be nearly 1.65 million tons for this fiscal year, according to the 2007 annual update and inventory report from the county’s Public Utilities Solid Waste Management Department.
Lined cells are basically holes in the ground with a rubber lining to prevent the leachate produced by decomposing garbage from seeping into groundwater.
Based on an estimated annual disposal rate of 1,400 pounds per person, the county plans to dispose of nearly 300,000 tons of trash this year, the inventory report shows.
With current technology and projects planned, such as the reclamation of more than 20 acres of two unlined cells filled in the late 1970s, the life of the landfill is projected to last until 2032.
Q: Why isn’t the city of Naples required to go into business recycling? I’ve read Collier County has it, and when I called the city, they put me on to other companies that charge for the service. Wouldn’t this be a “good neighbor of greening” to finally enforce this? I’ll bet lots of businesses in the Naples proper area would go along with it.
- Dianne Geisler, Naples
A: Naples City Council already has taken a look at the first draft of an ordinance requiring all businesses within city limits to recycle.
City Council members will discuss the ordinance again Monday at a workshop, and it will receive its first reading at the council meeting scheduled a week from Wednesday, City Manager Bill Moss said.
Moss said businesses have been supportive of the proposed measure because it will offset or more than offset solid waste collection fees.
“I think it will be successful,” he said. “Businesses will actually save money by recycling, because it’s less than the cost to haul waste to the landfill.”
In addition to the cost savings, Collier County Public Utilities Division spokeswoman Margie Hapke said recycling preserves the local landfill’s disposal capacity. If the county landfill reaches capacity, waste would have to be trucked elsewhere, an expensive proposition.
“The longer we can keep that landfill viable, the less expensive we can keep the disposal costs for everybody,” Hapke said.
In July 2004, Collier County commissioners approved an ordinance requiring businesses and institutions in the non-incorporated areas of the county to separate and recycle as many materials as practical. Commissioners sent letters in February 2007 to the cities of Naples, Everglades City and Marco Island requesting that they adopt the county’s mandatory non-residential recycling ordinance or approve a similar requirement.
Moss, the former city manager of Marco Island, said Marco has asked the county to amend its recycling ordinance to make it applicable to businesses on the island municipality. Marco, which has an agreement with the county to handle waste and recycling, is not in a position to go into the business of solid waste management, Moss said.
New laws in Lee County and the city of Bonita Springs require all businesses and multi-family housing developments to have recycling programs.
Tim Aten is chief online editor of the Daily News. E-mail questions with your name and city of residence to intheknow@naplesnews.com
Find a complete archive of “In the Know” at naplesnews.com/intheknow/
Comments
This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. Break our rules, and we will ban you. No exceptions, no second chances. Read our privacy policy & user agreement.
LOL.....So Naples wanted to ban smoking on beaches for littering reasons, but it will not require recycling for business?
I was at Sam's yesterday and saw a flat bed cart with over (30 cases x24 ea.) 720 bottles of water being sold to a local business being purchased for re-sale. My guess is most of those will end up being in the local landfill.
Brilliant!!
#1 Posted by volochine on April 9, 2008 at 1:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been impressed with the County's efforts in recycling. The variety of items acceptable in the yellow topped carts is extensive and the centers which accept just about everything else amazes me.
Naples needs to catch up.
#2 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on April 9, 2008 at 2 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the lazy people would get off their couches and demand recycling, the County would build an incinerator instead of the new roads that can wait another year!!!
#3 Posted by rtsspeaks on April 9, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
there is no reason for a local business to sit on their hands and wait for the city. The Naples Beach Hotel has been pro-active and started it's own recycling program. No reason other business can't follow suit.
#4 Posted by NaplesSparky on April 9, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Post your comment
(Requires free registration.)